The early morning hours of Sunday, December 14, 2025, were shattered by violence in Fayetteville, North Carolina, when police officers were dispatched to the 5000 block of Cliffdale Road. Around 4:28 a.m., responding units arrived at the scene following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered a male victim suffering from a critical gunshot wound to the chest.
Emergency medical personnel rushed the injured man to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center for urgent treatment, but despite their efforts, he succumbed to his injuries. The victim was later identified as Xavier Jaquan Griffin, a 34-year-old Black male from Fayetteville.
Detectives with the Fayetteville Police Department’s Homicide Unit launched an investigation into the fatal incident. Preliminary findings revealed that the violence stemmed from an argument between unrelated parties that escalated into gunfire. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that a second male individual had also been struck by bullets during the altercation. This second victim arrived independently at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in a personal vehicle, seeking treatment for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg. Authorities determined that his injury was directly connected to the shooting on Cliffdale Road.
As the inquiry progressed, investigators announced that all parties directly involved in the incident had been identified, describing the shooting as an isolated occurrence with no ongoing danger to the broader public. While the police confirmed that the individuals involved were known to them, no specific suspect was publicly named as having been arrested or charged with murder in the immediate aftermath of the event. The case remained an active homicide investigation as detectives continued to work through the evidence to determine the precise circumstances that led to the death of Xavier Griffin. Police urged anyone with information regarding the shooting to contact the Homicide Unit or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers.
