Nationwide — Pamela Shanks, a 68-year-old African American woman from Gastonia, North Carolina, was fatally struck by a stray bullet while sitting on the back porch of her home. Her death has left her family devastated as police investigate the shooting and search for those responsible.
The shooting happened late Monday afternoon, October 19, at the Dwell Townhomes on Hillgate Avenue. According to KWTX, Shanks was sitting on her porch, which backs up to Laurel Lane, when gunfire erupted nearby. Her family believes the shooting may have stemmed from a dispute involving other people in the neighborhood. Police confirmed that she was not the intended target and died after a stray bullet hit her.
Neighbors said they heard several gunshots before seeing multiple young people dressed in black flee the area. Police spent hours investigating the scene, cordoning off a large part of the townhome complex, including a playground. Investigators are working to determine how many people fired weapons and who they were targeting. As of Tuesday afternoon, authorities had not announced any arrests.
Shanks’ sudden death has left her relatives struggling to cope with their loss. Her niece, who asked to remain anonymous, described the emotional toll of losing her aunt. “Half of my heart was just like, it was folded and I don’t know which way to go, and it hurts so bad,” she said.
The niece also remembered Shanks as someone who brought joy to those around her. She said her aunt loved making people laugh and was known for her jokes. The family is now left to grieve someone whose life ended in a shooting that police say was not intended for her. Her niece said she was still in shock over the loss.
As the investigation continues, the niece urged people to consider the consequences of firing guns recklessly. She warned that even shooting into the air can endanger innocent people and carry serious consequences. Gastonia police are still working to identify those involved and determine what led to the gunfire. Meanwhile, Shanks’ family is seeking justice as they mourn the grandmother they lost.