In the late hours of a winter evening, the life of Priscilla Kee, a 34-year-old woman from Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, was tragically cut short. On Sunday, February 8, 2026, she was fatally wounded in a shooting that transpired in the parking lot of the Kirkwood Adams Community Center, located at the intersection of Eleventh and Hamilton streets. Law enforcement responded to a call about the shooting shortly after midnight. Upon their arrival, Kee was found with gunshot wounds and was rushed to ECU Health North Hospital, where she ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
The investigation into her death led to a swift arrest. Willie Lee Holmes, 56, also of Roanoke Rapids, was taken into custody near the scene of the crime. Officers reported observing Holmes running from the community center as they arrived. He was apprehended in the vicinity of Eleventh and Jackson streets, and a firearm was found in his possession. Holmes was subsequently charged with murder and possession of a firearm by a felon. He was incarcerated at the Halifax County Detention Center without the opportunity for bond. Authorities have indicated that the shooting followed an argument between Holmes and Kee.
Priscilla, affectionately known as "Twinkie," was born on January 22, 1991. She was a mother of three children. Remembered as a dedicated and hardworking individual, she was employed at Kapstone Manufacturing and had recently earned a certificate in welding, an accomplishment that brought her immense pride. Her unexpected death has left her family and friends to mourn a life filled with warmth and a radiant smile that left a lasting impression on all who knew her.
