Seven-year-old Zakylen Greylen Ky Harris was shot and killed on April 21, 2021, in Hickory, North Carolina. He was riding in a car with his mother and younger brothers on Tate Boulevard SE at about 11 p.m. when a small, dark-colored SUV pulled alongside and someone fired into their vehicle. Zakylen was struck in the neck and died. The mother told police she believed the shooting followed a road rage incident after she accidentally cut off another vehicle.

Hickory Police reviewed surveillance footage that captured the sequence of events and investigated all possible motives. On April 23, 2021, 23-year-old Douglas Mason Wilson of Claremont was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Zakylen’s death. The community mourned the loss of a beloved Southwest Elementary School student who enjoyed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, dinosaurs, and the color red; a candlelight vigil was held and his funeral was live-streamed.

If anyone witnessed the shooting or has additional information about that night, please share what you know.