Jalyn Thornton, a 22-year-old Black man from Fayetteville, North Carolina, was fatally shot at College Lake Recreational Center on April 13, 2025, around 5:00 p.m. Fayetteville Police officers responding to reports of gunfire found Thornton with gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene. No suspects have been publicly identified and no arrests have been reported.

Thornton graduated from E.E. Smith High School in 2020 and was described by family as determined and energetic, someone who cared for his loved ones after his mother died of cancer. Flowers and tributes were left outside the recreation center, which hosts basketball games and community activities; the facility remained closed the following day and some Spring Break Camp activities were moved to Pine Forest Recreation Center.

The Fayetteville Police Department is actively investigating; anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Pleze at 676-2596 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 483-8477. If anyone knew Jalyn or witnessed the shooting, can you share what you saw or heard?