On January 26, 2023, at approximately 11 p.m., 17-year-old Ty'el Hankins of Charlotte, North Carolina, was fatally shot while driving on Elwood Street in Kannapolis. After being struck by gunfire, his vehicle crashed into a residence at the intersection of Elwood Street and Cooper Avenue. Two other juveniles present in the vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
In the immediate aftermath, neighbors reported hearing gunshots followed by frantic knocking on their doors. One resident recounted a distressed teenager, covered in mud and without shoes, pleading for help for his injured friend. This individual was one of the passengers in Hankins' vehicle and sought assistance after the shooting.
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of a 14-year-old suspect on February 2, 2023. Due to the suspect's juvenile status, authorities have withheld personal details. Kannapolis Police indicated that the incident was not random, suggesting a prior acquaintance between Hankins and the suspect. The case remains under investigation, and officials have not disclosed the motive or circumstances leading to the shooting.
A memorial service for Ty'el A. Hankins was held on February 8, 2023, at Davis Funeral Home in Wilmington, North Carolina. He is survived by his mother, father, two brothers, and extended family members who continue to mourn his untimely passing.
