Family grieves tragic death of 21-year-old woman in Durham shooting

Family and friends are currently grieving the loss of a 21-year-old woman who was shot and killed in Durham last week. Ja’tavia Daye was brought to a hospital with gunshot wounds on May 28 and tragically passed away from her injuries on Monday. According to her uncle, Quincy Wright, Daye was an innocent bystander in the incident that led to her death.

Wright shared that Daye, known as “TayTay” to her loved ones, was always seeking to bring out the best in people and had a contagious smile that meant everything to him. On the night of May 28, she was shot near Guess Road and Broad Street in Durham, with the police treating the case as a homicide. Investigators believe that the shots came from a Chrysler 300.

Wright had a message for the perpetrator responsible for his niece’s death, urging them to do the right thing and turn themselves in. Daye’s passing has left her family and friends questioning the senselessness of the violence that took her life, with Wright emphasizing that she had a promising future ahead of her.

Recent data from the Durham Police Department reveals a troubling trend of gun violence in the city, with 102 individuals being shot so far this year. The numbers show an increase compared to previous years, with 19 firearm-related deaths reported in Durham for 2024. The community continues to grapple with the impact of these tragedies, as families mourn the loss of their loved ones and demand answers to why these senseless acts of violence continue to occur.