On December 30, 2024, tragedy struck in Hillsborough, North Carolina, when 16-year-old African American female Zikera Wardlow was found shot to death alongside 20-year-old De’Anthony Morgan in a parked Dodge Charger. The vehicle was discovered off Old N.C. Highway 86 early in the morning, with its doors open and the engine still running. Authorities believe the shooting occurred the previous night, as multiple gunshots were reported in the area.
Zikera Wardlow, a sophomore at Discovery Charter School in Durham, was a former basketball player at Cedar Ridge High School. She had left home on the evening of December 29 to meet Morgan, who had picked her up to get food. However, they never returned. While parked on a side road, an unidentified vehicle pulled up beside them and fired multiple shots, leaving shattered glass in the back passenger window.
The Hillsborough Police Department, with assistance from the State Bureau of Investigation, is actively investigating the case. As of now, no suspects have been identified, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. The community has been deeply affected by the loss, with Wardlow’s school launching a GoFundMe campaign to support her family. Her loved ones remember her as a bright and kind individual, and her tragic death has left many searching for answers.
