Destiny Quiterio-Avila, 17, a female from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was shot and killed on August 2, 2025. Police were called just before 1:40 a.m. to the 900 block of Cameron Avenue and found three people lying outside a home with gunshot wounds; all were pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators said initial information indicated a gathering was underway at the residence when the shooting happened, though what set it in motion remained unclear.
The other victims were identified as 18-year-old Alan Lopez and 23-year-old Kelsea Perkins. Family members and neighbors described a chaotic early-morning scene, with police lights flooding the street and loved ones arriving in shock. The violence left residents unnerved, and the deaths of three young people in one incident deepened the city's grief.
Loved ones of Destiny Quiterio-Avila shared a statement remembering a teenager whose “spirit…lit up every room,” and community members created a fundraiser to help with funeral costs. Online memorial pages also marked her life and the date and place of her death, reflecting the outpouring of messages and remembrances that followed.
As of the first days after the shooting, Winston-Salem police said the investigation was ongoing. Authorities had not announced any arrests, nor released details about suspects or a possible motive, and indicated they would brief the public as more information became available.
