In a somber turn of events, the Hillsborough community is grappling with the loss of two of its young residents. An ongoing investigation by Hillsborough police, assisted by the State Bureau of Investigation, unfolds after the discovery of a 16-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man fatally shot in a car. The deceased have been identified as Zikera Wardlow from Hillsborough and De'Anthony Letrelle Morgan from La Grange, according to a News & Observer report.
Found early Monday morning on Cardinal Drive near Interstate 85, the victims were located in a Dodge Charger with shattered glass visible in the back passenger window, described by witnesses. In what is believed by authorities to be an incident that occurred late Sunday night, evidence markers and yellow police tape notably outlined the scene of the vehicle, as per details provided by CBS17.
Wardlow, a vibrant presence on the basketball court, was recognized by her family as a star player with aspirations of collegiate athletics. As friends and family reel from the news, Sharin Murphy, a family friend, recounted to ABC11, "She's an awesome girl. She had a career ahead of her," further memorializing Wardlow's spirited nature and her prowess in the sport. "She was just an all-around girl. Everybody around here loved her, that's why it's so shocking."
Morgan, accompanying Wardlow, also lost his life in the tragic event, striking a chord in the community where he had previously attended Cedar Ridge High School. The school district expressed its condolences, reaching out to students and parents, stating, "We are terribly saddened by news of the tragic death of our former student, Zikera Wardlow," shared in a letter by Orange County Schools and reported by ABC11. A moment of silence is scheduled before Cedar Ridge's girls basketball game on Friday to honor Wardlow's memory.
Authorities have yet to release further details surrounding a possible suspect or motive behind the shooting.
