On April 1, 2023, at approximately 6:57 a.m., the Hickory Police Department received a 911 call from Joy Tucker, reporting that an unknown individual had fired multiple rounds at her and her husband, Prosper Nyatorwonu, as they arrived home at 240 14th Avenue Drive SW in Hickory, North Carolina.
Upon arrival, officers found Tucker, 45, lying on the front steps with a minor knee injury.
Her husband, 46-year-old Nyatorwonu, was discovered near the rear of the residence, suffering from gunshot wounds. Emergency medical services transported Nyatorwonu to Frye Regional Medical Center, and he was later transferred to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries on April 4, 2023.
The couple was unable to provide information about the shooter, and the Hickory Police Department initiated an investigation into the homicide. During the investigation, it was revealed that Tucker's son, 18-year-old Toland Huff Jr., had been involved in two separate shootings in the preceding month. On March 14, 2023, Huff was charged with attempted murder for allegedly firing into two apartments at the Sunny Valley complex. He was released on bond and subsequently identified as a suspect in another shooting near a Hickory convenience store on April 3, 2023.
Authorities considered the possibility that the homicide of Nyatorwonu might be connected to Huff's alleged criminal activities. However, as of April 10, 2023, no arrests had been made in connection with Nyatorwonu's death. Huff's bond for the attempted murder charge was increased due to concerns about community safety and potential retaliation shootings. The investigation into Nyatorwonu's death remained ongoing, with the Hickory Police Department urging anyone with information to come forward.
