A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where a 7-year-old boy lost his life after being struck by a stray bullet while playing video games and enjoying cheese fries in his own home.
On June 7, Zion Gibbs was sitting on the couch in the living room of his home on Danish Drive, soaking in the start of his summer break, when bullets tore through the walls. One of the rounds struck him under his left eye, causing severe injuries that tragically ended his life days later, despite doctors’ efforts to save him.
Zion’s aunt, Treka Beasley, shared on GoFundMe that the bullet traveled through to the back of his brain. She described how her nephew’s life was cut short in a moment that no family should ever endure.
Neighbors recounted the terrifying scene. One said they saw a car slowly driving by before the gunfire erupted, leaving the area rattled and Zion’s mother, Myra Gibbs, in unimaginable pain. “The mother was outside, hysterical,” a neighbor shared. “I heard her say her baby got shot in the face.”
Another neighbor reported hearing more than 15 gunshots that night. It’s believed the shots were fired from a passing car, though police have not confirmed the identity of the shooter.
Initially, 19-year-old Sierra Chambers was arrested as an accessory after the fact. On October 31, her charges were upgraded to murder after further investigation, according to local authorities. However, detectives have not announced any additional arrests or identified the shooter responsible for Zion’s death.
Zion’s mother expressed her heartbreak and longing for justice, saying, “It’s beyond words how shattered my heart is, and there are a lot of whys. This is a 7-year-old little boy, an innocent victim, just in the comfort of his own home.”
She described Zion as a sweet and loving child who cared deeply for those around him. “At night, every single night, he’d say, ‘I love you guys’ two or three times,” she shared. “He was just a loving kid.”
For Zion’s family, the pain is immeasurable, but they are holding onto memories of his kind and caring nature. His aunt, Treka, wrote that Zion embodied the meaning of his name—a symbol of peace, strength, and spirituality. “If you ever met Zion or knew him, you knew he truly embodied the meaning of his name,” she said.
The family now holds June 10, 2024, close to their hearts—the day Zion passed away after being taken off life support. While his physical presence is gone, his mother believes he continues to be with her as a guardian angel.
Zion’s senseless death has left the community in mourning and searching for answers. Myra Gibbs remains hopeful that the recent arrest will bring them closer to finding justice. “I’m very hopeful that this is going to put us closer to getting who took my baby from me,” she said.
As investigators continue their work, Zion’s family and friends hold onto his memory—a little boy full of love, joy, and life, taken far too soon.
