On February 7, 2023, 27-year-old Quentin Earl McNair of Whitakers, North Carolina, was fatally shot near the Cummins Rocky Mount Engine Plant. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Johnston Road near U.S. Highway 301, close to the plant where McNair was employed. Authorities reported that McNair was attacked as he was leaving work, with the assailant blocking his vehicle and opening fire.
The Nash County Sheriff's Office identified the suspect as 34-year-old Nikita Rajhon Hatch, who was known to McNair. Investigations revealed that the two men had engaged in disputes over social media prior to the shooting. On the day of the incident, Hatch allegedly waited outside the plant for McNair to finish work, then confronted him by blocking his vehicle and initiating gunfire. McNair returned fire, injuring Hatch, who subsequently fled the scene but was found a few miles away and transported to a hospital.
Following his release from medical care on February 21, 2023, Hatch was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He was taken to the Nash County Detention Center, where he was held without bond. The investigation concluded that the altercation stemmed from ongoing social media disputes between the two men, culminating in the fatal encounter.
McNair's death was a significant loss to his family and community. He was remembered as a devoted father to his two-year-old son and was known for his love of family, riding dirt bikes, and participating in sports such as football, wrestling, and track. His passing elicited an outpouring of grief from loved ones and highlighted the tragic consequences of escalating personal conflicts.
