Gabriel Teems, a 13-year-old boy from Lincolnton, North Carolina, was found unresponsive with gunshot wounds on Highland Drive at about 3:40 p.m. on September 23, 2020, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Gabriel was described as a young Caucasian male; his death has deeply affected the local community.

An 18-year-old, Matthew Eric Combs, was at the scene and taken into custody. Combs was charged with second-degree murder and held without bond. Witnesses, including Gabriel’s brothers, said Combs was a close family friend and believed the shooting was accidental; one brother reported Combs said he did not know the gun was loaded. Authorities have not provided a definitive explanation of how the shooting happened and the investigation remains ongoing.

If anyone has information about Gabriel, the events on Highland Drive that afternoon, or the people present, please come forward.