Fayetteville: Police identify Nyaiir Wilkerson, 17, as Maloney Avenue shooting victim

Fayetteville police say Nyaiir Wilkerson, 17, of Fayetteville, died after a shooting Saturday afternoon at Maloney Avenue and Lamon Street.

CBS 17, citing a Fayetteville Police Department news release, said the shooting was reported around 3:15 p.m. Officers said they found a teenager who had been shot. An earlier police account, as published by WRAL on Saturday, said first responders tried to save him and that he was pronounced dead at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

Early Sunday, police identified the teenager as Nyaiir Wilkerson, 17, of Fayetteville, CBS 17 reported, citing that department news release. The Fayetteville Observer also attributed the identification to Fayetteville police. A Fayetteville-area funeral home listed Nyaiir Wilkerson, 17, of Fayetteville, as having died Oct. 10. We are not using the home address on that page.

Police are investigating the death as a homicide. That is their classification. No one has been charged, and no arrest has been announced. If someone is later charged, a charge is an accusation. That person would be presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

What police have released

WRAL and CBS 17, citing Fayetteville police, reported these points:

• The call came in Saturday afternoon, Oct. 10. CBS 17, citing a department news release, said it was around 3:15 p.m.
• It was a shooting at Maloney Avenue and Lamon Street.
• Officers found a 17-year-old who had been shot.
• The teenager later died.
• Early Sunday, police identified him as Nyaiir Wilkerson, 17, of Fayetteville.
• No suspect has been identified.
• Police asked anyone with information to call detectives at 910-322-7446. CBS 17, citing officers, named Detective J. James at that number.

We are using the two street names police gave. We are not adding a house number.

On Sunday morning the department's official Facebook page listed a post titled "UPDATE: Homicide Investigation Maloney Ave and Lamon St." We could see that title. We could not load the full text of that post.

We have not found a copy of the news release on the city's police media-releases page. The list still showed items from May 2026 and earlier when we checked Thursday morning.

Timeline

• Saturday, Oct. 10, around 3:15 p.m.: Officers respond to a shooting at Maloney Avenue and Lamon Street, find a person who had been shot, and that person later dies (Fayetteville police, via CBS 17 and WRAL).
• Sunday, Oct. 11, morning: The department Facebook page lists an update titled as a homicide investigation at Maloney Avenue and Lamon Street. Full text not loaded. CBS 17, citing a department news release, says police identified Nyaiir Wilkerson, 17, of Fayetteville, early Sunday. The Fayetteville Observer also attributes that identification to police.
• Monday, Oct. 12, morning: WRAL and CBS 17, citing police, say the person killed was 17. We had not yet published the name.
• Thursday, Oct. 15, morning: The city's media-releases page still lists no Maloney Avenue or Lamon Street release. No arrest has been announced.

What happens next

Police have not said whether anyone has been identified or what led to the shooting.

Anyone with information can call Fayetteville police detectives at 910-322-7446. Fayetteville / Cumberland Crime Stoppers also takes anonymous tips.

We will update this story if police or the courts release more. This story is not an official or emergency notice. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.