On the evening of February 23, 2026, the life of 25-year-old Cormani Percel Alston Burnett was tragically cut short in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. Law enforcement officials with the Halifax County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the vicinity of Highway 48 and Rhea Smith Road after receiving reports of shots being fired shortly before 8 p.m.
Upon their arrival, deputies discovered Burnett deceased inside a vehicle.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the young man had sustained a fatal gunshot wound. The area, which includes the parking lot of a local convenience store, was quickly secured as a crime scene.
The Halifax County Sheriff's Office has launched a homicide investigation into Burnett's death. Authorities have been actively processing evidence and seeking leads to understand the circumstances that led to the shooting. As of now, no information regarding any potential suspects or arrests has been released to the public. The investigation remains ongoing, and law enforcement has encouraged anyone with information to come forward by contacting either the Halifax County Sheriff's Office or Crimestoppers.
