Eleven-year-old Hailey Joyner of New Bern, North Carolina, was shot on July 15, 2017, on the 1000 block of Antioch Road in the Bridgeton area and later died of her injuries. The Craven County Sheriff’s Office responded to the reported shooting and found Hailey with a gunshot wound.

A 16-year-old boy from New Bern, Justin Johnson, was arrested and charged with one count of murder in connection with Hailey’s death. Johnson was taken into custody and held in the Craven County Jail without bond. Some family members initially believed the shooting may have been an accident. Hailey had been placed by her mother, Rebecca McNese, who was recovering from addiction, in the care of someone known through social services; Hailey and Justin were living in the same home at the time.

The community mourned Hailey and awaited legal developments. If anyone has information about what happened on Antioch Road that day, please come forward.