On August 31, 2023, 17-year-old Maykayla Shaniya Gibbs of Wilmington, North Carolina, was killed. A student at J.T. Hoggard High School, she enjoyed dancing, hairstyling and making TikTok videos, and was a devoted mother to her young daughter, Kanyri.

A 16-year-old male, reportedly Maykayla’s boyfriend and the child’s father, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a minor. Investigators say the accused gave inconsistent accounts, first claiming Maykayla shot herself while he was playing video games. Evidence cited by police included blood indicating she had been shot in the front of the house and later moved to the back, a firearm discarded in a nearby yard, a Ring camera recording of the accused saying she had shot herself, and a 14-year-old witness who reported seeing the accused point a loaded gun at both the witness and Maykayla.

The juvenile appeared in court where transfer to superior court was discussed and a secured bond was set with house arrest and electronic monitoring as release conditions raised. Mental health concerns were noted by the defense, including prescriptions for anxiety and depression. Does anyone have information about Maykayla, her movements that day, or relevant video or witness accounts?