On December 3, 2024, at approximately 2 a.m., 31-year-old Don'Tae De'Charles Nixon was fatally shot outside his residence at 41 Stoney Road in the Walnut Hills community of Castle Hayne, North Carolina. According to District Attorney Jason Smith, Nixon had gone outside to start his car to warm it up before work when he was gunned down.
In the wake of this tragedy, the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, in collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
(ATF), has been actively seeking leads to identify and apprehend the perpetrator. Surveillance footage released by law enforcement shows a suspect walking through the Walnut Hills neighborhood with a firearm in hand shortly after the shooting. To encourage public assistance, the ATF has offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for Nixon's death.
During a press conference held on December 18, 2024, Nixon's family members, including his cousin Jimmy Hawkins, appealed to the community for help. Hawkins described Don'Tae as "a father, a son, a brother, a friend, and a light to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him," emphasizing that "he didn't deserve this. No one deserves to have their life cut short in such a violent and unjust way." Nixon's mother, Eunice Anita Nixon, expressed her heartbreak, stating, "My heart is broken into a million intangible pieces, and my life will never be the same."
As of now, no arrests have been made, and the suspect remains unidentified. Law enforcement officials have not disclosed whether Nixon was specifically targeted or if the incident was random. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities continue to urge anyone with information to come forward to assist in bringing justice for Don'Tae Nixon and his grieving family.
