On December 7, 2023, at approximately 10 p.m., Wilmington Police Department officers responded to a shooting incident at the MainStay Suites hotel located at 5229 Market Street in Wilmington, North Carolina. Upon arrival, they discovered two deceased individuals in the parking lot: 21-year-old Taemon Xavier Kirby of Wilmington and 22-year-old Niyja Saquan Spain of Brunswick County.
According to police reports, prior to the shooting, Kirby and Spain were engaged in a transaction inside a vehicle with two other individuals. During the interaction, a firearm was discharged from the backseat, striking a front-seat passenger. Subsequently, two men exited the vehicle, and one fired his weapon toward the source of the initial gunfire, resulting in multiple gunshot wounds to a backseat passenger.
In the aftermath of the incident, authorities took into custody the individual who fired the subsequent shots. However, as of the latest available information, the identity of this person has not been publicly disclosed. The investigation remains active, with law enforcement officials continuing to gather information to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the event.
In the wake of this tragic event, the community mourned the loss of Taemon Kirby, remembered for his magnetic smile, genuine kindness, and loving nature. He was a father to two young children, 14-month-old Amir James Kirby and one-month-old Onyx Rose Kirby. Funeral services were held on December 19, 2023, at Freedom's Way Ministries in Wilmington.
Authorities have urged anyone with additional information regarding the case to contact the Wilmington Police Department at 910-343-3609 or to use the Tip 411 app, as the investigation is ongoing.
