Michael Faulkner, a 38-year-old man from Franklinton, North Carolina, was killed on the morning of June 11, 2026, after deputies were called to a home at 51 Lynnbank Estates Road in Kittrell, North Carolina. The call came in at about 9:47 a.m. as a report of two gunshot victims, turning a quiet residential location in Vance County into the center of a homicide investigation.
When deputies with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office arrived, they found Faulkner suffering from apparent
gunshot wounds. A second victim, 26-year-old Ayanna Williams of Kittrell, was also found wounded. Faulkner could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene. Williams survived the initial shooting and was taken to Maria Parham Health for treatment of her injuries.
Authorities detained 23-year-old Amari Williams at the scene as the suspected shooter. Investigators with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division took over the case, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Crime Scene Unit was called in to assist with processing the scene and evidence.
Following the investigation, Amari Williams was charged with first-degree murder in Faulkner’s death. He was also charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury in connection with the shooting of Ayanna Williams. After his arrest, Williams was taken to the Vance County Detention Center, where he was being held without bond.
Officials had not released a motive in the shooting in the available reports. The case remained under investigation, with authorities asking anyone with information to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers, or submit an anonymous tip through the P3 Tips app.
