A 21-year-old Kenly man has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of 12-year-old Kyrell Stewart, avoiding a second-degree murder conviction nearly a year after the boy was killed inside a crowded Clayton apartment. Ty’ryn Anthony Zah’rel Washington entered the plea on Oct. 6, according to court records, closing out a case that had shifted charges twice since the shooting last November.
Court records show Washington pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Kyrell’s death, according to the Raleigh News & Observer. The outlet reported it was still working to find out details about the plea agreement, and Washington’s sentence was not detailed in the available court record. The case had moved from an initial involuntary manslaughter charge on Nov. 28, 2025, the day of the shooting, to a second-degree murder charge filed Dec. 3, 2025, before ending in the voluntary manslaughter plea.
Kyrell was shot and killed on Nov. 28, 2025, in Johnston County, the newspaper's earlier reporting on the case noted. An eyewitness told police that Washington had been handling a brown handgun when it discharged and struck the boy, according to search warrants cited in that report. Another eyewitness described the shooting as accidental.
A Crowded Apartment, A Chaotic Scene
The shooting happened inside a crowded apartment in Clayton. WSPA reported that police said there were 20 to 30 people inside the apartment when the shooting occurred, during what authorities described as a fight.
Washington was also accused of aiding and abetting another man who was accused of pointing a gun at someone, and of helping that man evade arrest, the same account noted. Court records separately show Washington was out on pre-trial release at the time of the Nov. 28 shooting. He was being held without bond at the Johnston County Detention Center as the case proceeded, per the outlet's earlier reporting.
Remembering Kyrell Stewart
Kyrell attended Coats Elementary, located in Coats, and Coats Erwin Middle School, located in Dunn, both towns in Harnett County, according to his Legacy.com obituary. The obituary described him as having a joyful spirit and said his laughter and vibrant smile brightened even the darkest days, with his playful nature and silly antics bringing smiles to those around him.
Denocia Sanders, who knew Kyrell, said he was sweet and loved all of his family, describing him as a fun kid with a loud, outgoing personality. Sanders learned that Kyrell had been helping his grandfather around the house on the day he died.
What Comes Next in the Case
Under North Carolina law, voluntary manslaughter is punishable as a Class D felony, according to North Carolina General Statutes, § 14-18. The exact sentence Washington will serve has not been detailed in available court records, and the terms of the plea agreement remain unclear. This remains a developing story, and further details on Washington’s sentencing are expected as the case moves forward.
