On April 19, 2025, 39-year-old African American male Jeffrey Pleasant-Thomas Carter Jr. was fatally shot outside his home on Hawkins Street in Gastonia, North Carolina. The incident occurred just before 3 a.m. His wife, Latoya Plant Carter, reported waking to gunfire and discovering her husband lying unresponsive outside their residence. One of the bullets narrowly missed her, embedding in a wall inside their home.
Emergency responders pronounced Jeffrey Carter Jr. dead at the scene.
His death has been officially ruled a homicide. At the time of his passing, he and his family were preparing to celebrate both his upcoming 40th birthday and their daughter's high school graduation.
As of now, the Gastonia Police Department has not identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with the case. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.
A memorial service for Jeffrey Pleasant-Thomas Carter Jr. was held on May 4, 2025, at Grier Funeral Service in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is remembered as a devoted father and husband whose life was tragically cut short.
