Ja’tavia Daye, a 21-year-old woman who was shot and killed last week in Durham, is leaving behind a grieving family and friends. On May 28, Daye was taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds but tragically passed away from her injuries on Monday. According to Daye’s uncle, Quincy Wright, she was an innocent bystander who was with friends when someone opened fire on their car while they were at a store.
Known as “TayTay” to her family, Daye was described as someone who always sought to bring out the best in people with her infectious smile. The shooting that took Daye’s life occurred on the night of May 28 near Guess Road and Broad Street in Durham. Police have classified the case as a homicide and suspect the shots were fired from inside a Chrysler 300. Wright had a message for the person responsible for his niece’s death, urging them to do the right thing and turn themselves in.
Data from the Durham Police Department reveals that as of this year, 102 individuals have been shot in the city. This marks an increase from previous years, with 73 people shot in Durham from January 1 to May 25 in 2023. In 2024, 19 people have died from gunshot wounds in Durham, adding to the 18 deaths in 2023 and 16 deaths in 2022. The rising gun violence in Durham has left families like Daye’s devastated and pleading for an end to the senseless shootings that continue to claim lives in the community.
Daye’s loved ones are struggling to come to terms with her loss and are left wondering why this tragedy happened to someone with so much potential. They are calling on everyone in their community to come together and work towards creating a safer future for all of its residents.
Quincy Wright is urging anyone with information about his niece’s murder case or any other unsolved cases of gun violence in Durham city area to come forward and assist police investigations so that justice can be served.
As we pay tribute to Ja’tavia Daye’s memory we must also reflect on how we can prevent such tragedies from happening again. We need actionable solutions that address root causes of gun violence such as poverty, lack of access education and job opportunities, mental health issues among others
