Jailyn Dumari Morton, 24, was shot and killed on February 9, 2020, in an apartment at the Hillcrest Apartments public housing complex in Asheville, North Carolina. Police found Morton lying face-down in the living room; he was taken to Mission Hospital and pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Investigators say a fist fight had occurred inside the apartment shortly before the shooting. Morton was not involved in that initial altercation, but a partner of his tried to break it up. An argument then erupted between Morton and 21-year-old Rodnee Rayshaun Bowman, during which Bowman drew a 9mm pistol and shot Morton in the right side of his chest. Surveillance video reportedly shows Bowman fleeing the scene. Officers recovered a bullet casing at the apartment and also noted a crystal-like substance believed to be drugs, pills, a syringe with clear liquid, and digital scales.

Morton graduated from Greenwood High School in 2013 and is remembered as a fun-loving person who enjoyed cooking. He is survived by his mother, father, three brothers, and three sisters. Does anyone have information about that night or about Morton’s time in Asheville that could help shed light on what happened?