16-year-old high school student, man found shot dead in car in Hillsborough

Hillsborough police are asking for the public’s help after finding two people fatally shot in a car Monday morning.

The bodies of a 16-year-old girl from Hillsborough and De’Anthony Letrelle Morgan, 20, of La Grange in Kinston County, were discovered at the end of Cardinal Drive near Interstate 85 about 6:40 a.m., a news release stated.

They appeared to have been killed inside the car late Sunday night, according to police. Several evidence markers as well as yellow tape surrounded a Dodge Charger.

The girl’s family identified her as Zikera Wardlow and said she was on the girls basketball team at Discovery Charter School in Durham, according to ABC11, The News & Observer’s newsgathering partner.

“She’s an awesome girl. She had a career ahead of her,” family friend Sharin Murphy told ABC11. “She was on her way to do big things. She was always out here playing basketball. She beats everyone on the court — male or female.

“She was just an all-around girl. Everybody around here loved her,” Murphy said. “That’s why it’s so shocking.”

Orange County Schools sent a notice to families to express their sadness about Wardlow, who attended Cedar Ridge High last year and played basketball there. Counselors are available for students and staff, according to the email.

Discovery Charter also released a statement.

“Though ‘Z.’ as she was often called, had only this year joined our Trailblazer family, she was already known as a bright, kind, respectful, and valued member of our school community,’ said Toni Shellady, director of Discovery Charter. “She was a member of our high school girls basketball team and had made many friends and integrated well into our Trailblazer community in the short time she was a Discovery student.

“Zikera’s presence brought joy to classmates and teachers alike, and she will be deeply missed,” Shellady said. “During this heartbreaking time, our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Zikera’s family, friends, and all those who knew and loved her.”

A GoFundMe organized by Discovery Charter states Wardlow left home Sunday night to get food “but never returned.”

“This unimaginable tragedy has left her family, friends, and community in deep sorrow.” it states. So far, over $3,900 has been raised in donations to the teenager’s family.

A GoFundMe campaign also has been started to help pay Morgan’s funeral expenses

“DeAnthony was a hard working young man,” organizer and “mother in love” Shameka McDowell wrote on the page. “He was enrolled in college at Lenoir Community College.”

“Our children are supposed to bury their parents,” she wrote. “Parents should not have to bury their children due to gun violence.”

The State Bureau of Investigation is assisting the Hillsborough Police Department, which has released no information about a possible suspect or motive.

911 calls released

In a seven-minute 911 call released Tuesday, a caller described seeing the body of a woman lying outside a “brand new’” Dodge Charger parked in the lot near the Holiday Inn Express behind the Gateway Village Apartments on Monday morning.

One of the car doors was open, the car was still running and the woman was on the ground, the caller said.

“It looks like she got out the car from the backseat and she’s just laying,” the caller said, their voice breaking. They believed the woman was dead.

The caller, who is not identified, said the car had been there since 8 o’clock the previous night when they heard gunshots. They said they didn’t call the police because after looking and seeing the Charger with its rear lights on, they thought the police were already on the scene.

Another caller said they heard five gunshots but also did not call to report them because they had heard shots in that area “on and off before.”

“This morning, I was hearing helicopters and I looked and found out abut the shooting in the same area,” the caller said.

Hillsborough police ask for public help

Hillsborough police repeated their appeal for help Tuesday.

“We would love to have some tips and cooperation from the public,” said Maj. Jason Winn, assistant police chief. “We need as much help as we can get from the public.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Andrew Jones at 919-296-9562 or by email. Anonymous tips can be reported by calling 919-296-9555 or using the See it, Say it, Send it website, iOS app or Android app.

This story was originally published December 30, 2024 at 12:22 PM.