April Elesha Whitley, 33, was shot and killed on the night of May 18, 2021, in Salisbury, North Carolina. She was found by rescuers in a truck on Gheen Road after being struck in the right side of her chest when a person reportedly jumped from a ditch and began firing as the vehicle parked at the driveway of a home at 1270 Gheen Road. April died soon after arriving at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center.

Born April 5, 1988, in Salisbury, April attended West Rowan schools and graduated from West Rowan High School in 2005. She worked at local businesses including C’s Barbecue, Cleveland, Woodleaf BP, and Ryan’s Restaurant, and attended Fisher Street Baptist Church in Concord. Deputies found shell casings in the driveway and interviewed residents and occupants of the home; paramedics at a nearby address were told a gunshot victim was in a vehicle and that those with the victim left the scene without offering further information.

The shooter’s identity remains unknown and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office has asked the public for help; Crime Stoppers has been reactivated to assist with leads. If anyone knew April or has information about that night, please come forward.