On April 22, 2024, 13-year-old MyKia Nicole Daniel was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head in a rear bedroom of an apartment on North Hills Drive in Raleigh, North Carolina. MyKia, an eighth-grade student at Ligon Magnet Middle School, had been reported as a runaway at the time of her death.
Investigations revealed that on April 12, 2024, MyKia was involved in a physical altercation with a former friend at school, leading to suspensions for both students.
Peers at Ligon Middle School reported to school officials that escalating tensions from this incident may have contributed to her death.
In the early hours of April 22, MyKia's mother received distressing messages via social media indicating that her daughter had been shot. She promptly contacted the police, who discovered MyKia's body in the apartment. Although no firearm was recovered at the scene, a shell casing was found in a separate room.
The investigation led to the arrest of 16-year-old Zylon Abrams, who surrendered to authorities shortly after the incident. Prior to turning himself in, Abrams sent a message to MyKia's sister expressing remorse, stating, "I'm sorry, I'm turning myself in today... didn't mean for any of this to happen." He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and is being tried as an adult.
Further examination of Abrams' social media accounts uncovered a video in which he mentioned that the intent was to "scare" MyKia, not to kill her. Additionally, investigators found images on his phone, including pictures of the firearm believed to have been used in the shooting.
The tragic death of MyKia Daniel has underscored a concerning rise in youth violence within the community. Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman remarked on the alarming trend of young individuals resorting to violence, emphasizing the need for a collective community effort to address and prevent such incidents.
In the wake of her passing, family, friends, and community members have held vigils and balloon releases to honor MyKia's memory, calling for an end to youth violence and seeking justice for her untimely death.
