Goldsboro is reeling after the sudden loss of Otavis Gerquel McKinnon, 37, who was shot and killed just after midnight Tuesday on Hollowell Avenue. Neighbors said the quiet street felt safe, but the sound of gunfire at about 12:43 a.m. shattered that sense of peace. Police and Wayne County EMS were called to the 300 block of Hollowell and found McKinnon with
life‑threatening wounds. Medics worked quickly, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Friends and family remember Otavis as a warm presence in the community, someone who stopped to talk, greeted neighbors by name, and cared about the people around him. He was known for his ready smile and calm voice. For many who knew him, his death feels impossibly sudden and too soon. People in the neighborhood lit candles and left flowers where he was found, struggling to come to terms with a loss they never saw coming.
Investigators from the Goldsboro Police Department’s Investigative Services Bureau are following leads, but as of now no suspect has been publicly identified. Police are urging anyone who might have information to step forward. Despite calls for help from the community, details about a motive or possible suspects remain scarce, leaving loved ones with unanswered questions.
McKinnon’s family has been surrounded by grief. Relatives described him as someone who loved his home and worked hard to support those closest to him. In chats with friends after the tragedy, people said he was that person you could count on to show up when life got hard. His sudden absence has left a space that can’t easily be filled.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Hollowell Avenue scene was still marked off, officers moving in and out as they processed evidence. Some residents stood silently, others spoke in hushed tones, all trying to make sense of a night that took a life they valued. For many in Goldsboro, the shooting is a sharp reminder of how quickly life can change.
The community plans to hold a vigil this weekend, a simple gathering to honor Otavis’s life and offer support to his family. People are sharing memories, stories of kindness and laughter, hoping to hold onto what he meant to them. The pain remains raw, but so does the commitment to remember the man behind the name.
As the investigation continues, Goldsboro residents are left to grieve and to hope that someone will come forward with information that might help bring clarity to this tragedy.
