Avah Gracelynn Bullock, a 5-year-old student at Aycock Elementary School, died from a gunshot wound inside her Henderson, North Carolina, home on February 28, 2025. The shooting happened about 9:30 a.m.; authorities say her 3-year-old brother, Waylon Lee, accessed an unsecured firearm and fatally shot her. Responders provided aid but Avah did not survive. The weapon and other evidence were recovered at the scene and the investigation remains active while officials consult the District Attorney’s Office about possible charges.

Avah was born May 7, 2019, in Durham County and was remembered for loving sparkly things, high heels and makeup. Her mother, Morgan Nicole Deans, has been charged in connection with the incident; a warrant alleges giving or selling a weapon to a minor and shows a $5,000 bond with a first court appearance scheduled for March 18, 2025, in Vance County. Anyone with information about the shooting or firearm storage at the Gary Street residence is asked to come forward.