Iza Lily Morris, a six-year-old girl from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, tragically passed away on November 10, 2011. Iza was found shot to death in her bedroom, alongside her father, Derek Morris, who also died from a gunshot wound. The incident has been classified as a murder-suicide by the Winston-Salem Police Department. Preliminary autopsy results revealed that Iza was shot multiple times in the head, while Derek died from a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The discovery was
made by Iza's mother, Sarah Morris, and a neighbor. According to police reports, Derek and Sarah were in the early stages of separating and were discussing custody arrangements for Iza. However, Sarah's sister disputed this claim, stating that the couple was not separating and that she did not understand why Derek snapped.
The investigation into the incident did not identify any other suspects, as there was no evidence indicating the involvement of anyone else in the shooting. Family members from Georgia arrived to support Sarah and help her move out of the home following the tragic event.
Iza Lily Morris was a student at Forsyth Academy and was in the first grade. She was remembered fondly by her family and community. The funeral service for Iza and her father was held at Hayworth-Miller Rural Hall Chapel, and they were later buried at Eternal Hills in Snellville, Georgia.
