On March 4, 2024, at about 5 a.m., 36-year-old Cynthia Danielle Allen was found dead in her home on Bavarian Lane in Wilmington, North Carolina, the victim of a fatal gunshot wound. Her 14-year-old son was present; he awoke to gunfire and discovered his mother deceased. Authorities quickly named 31-year-old Darius Tyshaun Williams a person of interest and described him as armed and dangerous.

Court records show Allen had sought protection from Williams multiple times. She filed a domestic violence protective order in May 2023 and then another in February 2024, alleging threats to kill her and her son; the February order required Williams to stay away from her residence. Williams had prior domestic violence-related charges and active warrants at the time of Allen’s death. Community members have expressed grief and concern about whether existing protections were adequate. If anyone has information about the events on Bavarian Lane or knew Cynthia, please come forward.