On December 30, 2023, at about 9:50 p.m., Greenville Police responded to a ShotSpotter alert near 1700 South Greene Street and found 14-year-old Zykere Deontae Langley collapsed near Pitt and Brown Streets with a life-threatening gunshot wound to the chest. He was taken to ECU Health Medical Center and died on December 31, 2023. Investigators say the shooting was targeted and grew out of a dispute between Langley and another 14-year-old boy that reportedly began on social media; the individuals were known to each other. A juvenile suspect was arrested the afternoon of December 31 and is being held at the Pitt County Juvenile Detention Center; his identity has not been released because of his age.

Langley had recently transferred to C.M. Eppes Middle School about two weeks before winter break but there is no record of his attendance at the new school. The community is arranging grief counseling for students returning to class, and Langley’s mother, Lesha Langley, set up a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses. Anyone with information is asked to contact Greenville Police.