Nathaniel Turner, a 27-year-old African American male, was fatally shot in his Wilmington, North Carolina apartment on February 9, 2025. Authorities responded to a call at Meridian Village Apartment Homes in the early hours of the morning, where they discovered Turner with multiple gunshot wounds. A second victim, a 24-year-old woman, was also shot multiple times but survived her injuries.
Emergency medical services transported her to New Hanover Regional Medical Center, where she was reported to be in stable condition.
Investigators quickly launched a homicide investigation, leading to the arrest of three suspects. The first suspect, a 16-year-old juvenile, was taken into custody on February 10 and charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and robbery with a dangerous weapon. Two days later, authorities arrested 18-year-old Jamail Tramble, who faced similar charges, including first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy. The third suspect, Marvin Lorenzo Newkirk, a 40-year-old male, was apprehended on February 25 in Whiteville, North Carolina. Newkirk was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, robbery, and conspiracy. He was booked into the New Hanover County jail without bond.
According to a 911 call made by one of the victims, the suspects entered the apartment looking for money. When they failed to find any, they resorted to violence, shooting both Turner and the female victim. Authorities believe the incident was a robbery gone wrong. Newkirk, the oldest suspect, has a prior criminal record, having been convicted of second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon in 2008. His arrest in Whiteville was the result of vigilant investigative work by Columbus County deputies, who spotted him entering a convenience store and took him into custody without incident.
The case remains under investigation as authorities continue to piece together the events leading up to the fatal shooting. The arrests of the three suspects mark significant progress in the pursuit of justice for Nathaniel Turner, whose life was tragically cut short in a violent crime.
