Karter River Rosenboro was a five-year-old Black child from Greenville, North Carolina, known for his bright, beautiful smile and a personality that was just beginning to bloom. A kindergartner at Northwest Elementary School, Karter was a vibrant boy who loved the movie "Cars," macaroni and cheese, and his favorite colors: blue, red, and green. He was rarely seen without his cherished hat and gold chain, which he liked to pair with sunglasses.
His family recalled how he had just lost his first tooth and spent the $10 from the tooth fairy on candy. He was also starting to learn Spanish, and his favorite word was "sientate."
The tragedy occurred on the evening of October 8, 2024. Karter was at the home he shared with his great-grandparents when his six-year-old sibling found a firearm. The sibling accidentally shot Karter in the head. Deputies from the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call just after 7 p.m. and found the injured child. Emergency responders rushed Karter to ECU Health Medical Center, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.
An investigation by the sheriff’s office determined that the shooting was a tragic accident. Detectives learned the gun belonged to Karter’s 72-year-old great-grandfather, Rayfield Ruffin. On October 10, 2024, authorities arrested Ruffin and charged him with failing to securely store a firearm to protect a minor. He was later released after posting a $2,000 unsecured bond.
The legal case against Rayfield Ruffin never reached a final resolution. Before the matter could proceed to trial, Ruffin himself was slain in an unrelated incident. His death in January 2026 brought an end to the court proceedings related to the firearm charge.
Karter’s family remembers him as a joyful and loving child who was his "granddaddy's boy." He leaves behind his parents, Niasia Knight and Terry Rosenboro, Jr., as well as several siblings, including his twin sister, Khloe, who was known for being his constant protector. In the wake of his death, the family received an outpouring of support from their church and community, and a fundraiser was established to help with his memorial. His family said that Karter once wrote his name in blue on a wall in his grandparents' home, and it is still there.
