On January 12, 2023, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Chapel Hill police responded to a reported shooting in the 600 block of North Heritage Circle, near the Chapel Ridge apartment complex. Upon arrival, officers discovered the body of 24-year-old Marcus Anthony Smith, a resident of Durham, North Carolina. Smith had suffered fatal gunshot wounds, prompting authorities to initiate a homicide investigation.
Nearly a month later, on February 9, 2023, the Chapel Hill Police Department announced the arrest of 23-year-old Chapel Hill resident, Asim Salah McKenzie. McKenzie was charged with second-degree murder in connection with Smith's death. According to police statements, McKenzie and Smith were known to each other, suggesting a prior relationship between the victim and the suspect. McKenzie surrendered himself to authorities at the Orange County Detention Center, where he was held without bond.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Smith's death is ongoing. Authorities have not publicly disclosed a motive for the shooting or detailed the nature of the relationship between Smith and McKenzie. The Chapel Hill Police Department continues to seek information from the public to aid in their investigation.
