On the evening of November 28, 2025, a 12-year-old boy, Kyrell Tocarise Stewart, was fatally shot in Clayton, North Carolina. Police had initially responded to a disturbance involving weapons on the 300 block of Commodore Street. The altercation spread to a nearby apartment complex on the 400 block, where roughly 20 to 30 people were inside a crowded unit. While occupants tried to hide firearms from arriving officers, a gun was accidentally discharged and struck Kyrell. Johnston County EMS provided life-saving efforts but he did not survive.

Investigators identified 20-year-old Ty'ryn Anthony Zah'rel Washington of Kenly as the person holding the weapon when it fired. Washington fled the scene but later turned himself in and was charged with involuntary manslaughter. At his initial court appearance a judge set secured bond at $50,000 and ordered no contact with the victim’s family; prosecutors referenced possible gang ties and prior legal issues at the hearing.

Kyrell, known as Rell, was a student at Coats-Erwin Middle School. Born in Smithfield, he is survived by his parents and two sisters and was remembered for his bright smile and love of video games, swimming, football and basketball. Does anyone have information about that night or knew Kyrell and can help fill in what happened?