In the early morning hours of April 25, 2026, the life of 16-year-old Khamari Harrison was tragically cut short in Hope Mills, North Carolina. A student at Douglas Byrd High School, the young female was involved in a shooting on Fox Ridge Drive that stemmed from a drug deal arranged over Instagram. Harrison had planned to purchase psilocybin mushrooms and, accompanied by a 15-year-old male friend, went to meet the seller shortly after midnight. When she approached the seller's vehicle, multiple shots were fired, striking her in the arm and chest. Her friend called 911, and she was rushed to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, but she ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
The investigation into the homicide quickly led Hope Mills police to their primary suspect. Julius Clem Smith, a 20-year-old convicted felon, was identified as the individual who had arranged the sale on Instagram. Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station reportedly captured Smith shortly after the shooting. Authorities located his vehicle, which contained a bullet hole and shell casings. A search of his home later uncovered psilocybin mushrooms. Within a week of the shooting, Smith was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a Schedule I controlled substance. He is being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center without bond.
Further investigation resulted in two additional arrests connected to the case. Smith's aunt, 37-year-old Brittany Ruth Grant, was charged with accessory after the fact. She is accused of helping to hide the vehicle that was used during the shooting and was held on a $250,000 bond. In a surprising turn, the 15-year-old friend who had accompanied Harrison on the night of her death was also charged. His charges include armed robbery and conspiracy, adding another layer of complexity to the tragic event that ended a young life.
