Nyah Strong Hairston

Nyah Strong Hairston was a 20-year-old Black woman from Largo, Maryland, described by her family as a shy, sweet, and kind soul. A graduate of Laurel High School, she lived with her mother and worked two jobs. By day, she was a part-time employee at UPS; by night, she was a hairstylist with a salon set up in her family’s home. She was just beginning to build her life and career.

On the evening of Friday, May 3, 2024, Nyah finished her shift at UPS around 10 p.m. She called her mother to let her know she was stopping at a friend’s house for a few minutes and would then be home. But she never arrived. Shortly before 10:45 p.m., Maryland State Police troopers were called to the scene of what appeared to be a single-vehicle crash on southbound I-495 near Landover Road in Hyattsville. They found Nyah’s gray Nissan Versa in a ditch off the side of the highway.

Inside the car, troopers found Nyah unresponsive in the driver's seat. They were forced to break a window to get to her and immediately began administering CPR and other life-saving measures. It was only when Prince George’s County Fire/EMS personnel arrived to provide medical treatment that an apparent gunshot wound was discovered. Nyah was rushed to the University of Maryland Capital Regional Trauma Center, but she was later pronounced deceased.

The investigation, led by the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit with assistance from the FBI, is ongoing. Investigators believe the shooting was a random act, not a targeted attack. The circumstances have made the case difficult to solve, as the shooting occurred late at night on a heavily trafficked road during a misty rain. Nyah’s great-aunt, Florence James, has pleaded publicly for help. "Somebody saw something. Somebody knows something and somebody has heard something," she said. "So I'm asking you to be a standup person and come out and say what you know."

As of June 2024, Nyah’s death remains unsolved. The Maryland State Police have announced a $20,000 reward for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the person or persons responsible. Anyone who may have witnessed the shooting or has information about the case is urged to contact the Maryland State Police at 443-829-9227.