On March 3, 2024, in Kinston, North Carolina, 33-year-old Amie Danielle Heath was fatally shot following a minor traffic accident. The incident began when Heath and her boyfriend were involved in a minor collision with another vehicle. Both parties initially agreed to settle the matter privately by exchanging money. However, a disagreement arose during this exchange, prompting Heath and her boyfriend to leave the scene and return to their residence on NC Highway 55 West.
As they arrived home and pulled into their driveway, the suspects allegedly followed them and fired a shot, striking Heath in the head. Emergency responders transported her to ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville, where she succumbed to her injuries the following day, March 4, 2024.
Law enforcement swiftly identified and apprehended the suspects: 24-year-old Shy’mecca Epps and a 17-year-old male, both from Kinston. A Kinston police officer spotted their vehicle near Skinners Bypass on U.S. 70, leading to a traffic stop at the Hampton Inn in Kinston. Both individuals were taken into custody without incident; two small children were also found in the vehicle at the time of the arrest.
Initially, Epps and the juvenile were charged with discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle and causing serious bodily injury. Following Heath's death, these charges were elevated to an open count of murder. Additionally, Epps faced two counts of felony child abuse with intent to cause serious injury, as the two children were present during the shooting incident.
Lenoir County Sheriff Jackie Rogers expressed condolences to Heath's family and praised the collaborative efforts of the deputies and Kinston Police Department officers involved in apprehending the suspects. The case underscores the tragic consequences that can arise from seemingly minor disputes and highlights the importance of resolving conflicts peacefully.
