On January 1, 2025, at approximately 3:22 a.m., officers from the Fayetteville Police Department responded to reports of a shooting at the Motel 6 located in the 3700 block of Bragg Boulevard in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Upon arrival, they discovered Donquiez Wilbridge, a 36-year-old Black male, lying in the motel's parking lot suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
This incident marked the city's first homicide of the year.
The Fayetteville Police Department's Homicide Unit initiated an investigation into the shooting. As of the latest available information, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. Authorities have urged anyone with information related to the case to contact Detective B. Pleze at 676-2596 or reach out to Crimestoppers at 483-TIPS. A cash reward of up to $2,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest in this case.
Donquiez Wilbridge was a resident of Fayetteville, North Carolina. His death has been memorialized on platforms dedicated to victims of gun violence, where friends and family have shared their condolences and memories. A funeral service was held on January 19, 2025, at Cunningham & Sons Mortuary in Fayetteville.
Prior to his death, Donquiez Wilbridge had a history of legal issues. Records indicate that he was arrested on multiple occasions, including a 2013 arrest in Wake County and arrests in Cumberland County in 2023 for charges such as possession of a stolen firearm and child support violations. These past incidents, however, are separate from the circumstances surrounding his death.
The investigation into the homicide of Donquiez Wilbridge remains active. Law enforcement continues to seek information from the public to aid in identifying and apprehending those responsible for this crime.
