Crime
1 dead, another wounded after shooting at Avalon Fishing Pier in Kill Devil Hills
KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. — A shooting at the Avalon Fishing Pier in Kill Devil Hills on Thursday afternoon has left one person dead, another injured, and a suspect in custody, according to Kill Devil Hills Assistant Chief of Police Dana Harris.
Zane Hughes Identified as Victim Killed in Avalon Fishing Pier Shooting in Kill Devil Hills
The incident occurred at approximately 2:37 p.m., when police received reports of gunfire in the pier’s parking lot. Officers responded swiftly, arriving on the scene in under four minutes.
One individual was pronounced dead at the scene, and another victim—identified as having sustained a gunshot wound to the leg—was airlifted to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital for emergency surgery.
According to Assistant Chief Harris, the suspect fled the scene before officers arrived.
However, thanks to witness-provided descriptions of both the individual and the suspect’s vehicle, law enforcement was able to locate and apprehend the alleged shooter in a nearby town.
The arrest was made by Southern Shores Police with support from multiple agencies. Harris confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public.
“This is something I’ve never had to deal with in my 48 years of law enforcement,” Harris said, noting the emotional toll of the incident and the active nature of the ongoing investigation.
A witness who works at the pier reported that the shooting may have followed an argument in the parking lot.
According to the witness, the suspect circled the lot in his vehicle before opening fire, fatally shooting a boy in the chest.
Another person nearby—reportedly not related to the deceased—was also struck and injured.
Helen Ginter, speaking to Channel2 NOW, shared that her friend’s nephew was the person shot in the leg. “He was on vacation, fishing at the pier, when he was shot,” she said. “He’s now in surgery, and we are so thankful he’s expected to recover. The boy standing next to him—someone he didn’t know—was killed.”
Another account from a woman named Rebecca described a distressing phone call from a friend named Chrissy, who witnessed the aftermath. “Chrissy just called me bawling,” she told Channel2 NOW. “She said the boy died in her arms. He was covered in a sheet. She’s a wreck. At first, she thought the sounds were fireworks until she realized it was gunshots.”
The Avalon Fishing Pier is a well-known destination in the Outer Banks, frequented by both locals and tourists for fishing and beach access.
Republican congressional candidate Austin Ayers offered his condolences via social media, writing:
“My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in this incident unfolding in Kill Devil Hills right now. I am being briefed on the situation. While information is very limited, please respect all first responders at the Avalon Pier. They are doing their job. If they request you leave the area, please do. Please remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to 911 immediately.”
The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.
The identity of the suspect and the deceased victim has not yet been released.
Crime
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.