Elijah Bryce Wyand, 25, was shot and killed after an altercation that began inside the Anubis Hookah Lounge on Ramsey Street and spilled into the parking lot on September 21, 2024, at about 1:52 a.m. Officers found him with a gunshot wound and he died at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. Surveillance footage shows Wyand, who was celebrating his 25th birthday, in a physical confrontation with another patron before the fatal shooting. Another person was injured and reported in fair condition.

No arrests have been announced and the Fayetteville Police Department is actively investigating. The lounge has seen previous violence, including a June shooting that injured multiple people, and its owner has said the business will close. Family and friends held a vigil and a memorial service; his mother, Samantha Wyand, described the loss as senseless and noted he had been deepening his faith. If anyone has information that could help the investigation, contact Detective A. Wolford at 910-705-2141 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).