Ucola Murray Whitworth, a 46-year-old man from Greensboro, North Carolina, was fatally shot during the early morning hours of August 29, 2026. At approximately 2:38 a.m., Greensboro police, firefighters, and Guilford County emergency medical personnel were dispatched to Madre Place following a report of a shooting. Whitworth was found outside his residence suffering from gunshot injuries. Despite the emergency response, Guilford County EMS pronounced him dead at the scene. His death was immediately taken up by the Greensboro Police Department as a homicide investigation.
Investigators learned that two suspects reportedly fled the area in a vehicle following the shooting. Authorities did not publicly identify either person, release physical descriptions, or provide a description of the vehicle believed to have been used in their escape. Police also did not announce what may have led to the shooting or whether Whitworth knew the people responsible. At the time of the initial investigation, detectives were continuing to gather evidence and information from the area in an effort to determine who killed him and why. His death was reported as Greensboro's 18th homicide of 2026.
Whitworth was remembered by those close to him as an outgoing and fun-loving person who enjoyed making the people around him happy. Known affectionately by several nicknames, including Cola and Coco, he was described as someone whose smile, personality, and distinctive way of carrying himself made him immediately recognizable to friends and relatives. He enjoyed baseball, basketball, and football, but fishing held a particularly important place in his life. He was also interested in fast cars, music, and fashion. Whitworth was the son of Willie J. Whitworth and Lois Whitworth, both of whom died before him, and he left behind siblings, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
A homegoing celebration for Whitworth was held on September 6 at the Goldie Hargett Memorial Chapel in Greensboro as his family and friends mourned his sudden death. Meanwhile, the homicide investigation remained open. Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers subsequently posted the case as an unsolved homicide under case number 2026-0829-016 and offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information capable of helping law enforcement solve the case. As of September 24, 2026, the case was still publicly listed as unsolved, with authorities continuing to seek information identifying the individuals involved. No arrests, criminal charges, trials, or convictions connected to Whitworth's killing had been publicly announced.
