Dakota Wayne Trent, a 17-year-old from Marshall, North Carolina, was fatally shot on February 8, 2025, in the Walmart parking lot in Weaverville. The shooting occurred around 4:30 p.m.; the Weaverville Police Department and the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office responded and described the incident as isolated with no ongoing threat to the community.

Dakota was born June 30, 2007, and is remembered as a son, grandson, brother, and friend. He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Holly Trent and Chris Stanley; his father, Donald Wayne Trent; siblings Jaxxon, Levi, Kaeli, and Oakleigh; and extended family. Funeral services were held February 18, 2025, at Madison Funeral Services in Marshall.

There have been no public reports of arrests or identification of suspects; the investigation remains ongoing and authorities are seeking information. If anyone has information about the shooting or saw activity in the Walmart parking lot that afternoon, please share what is known.