Suspect Sought After 12-Year-Old Killed In Clayton Shooting
Dec. 1, 2025
This story has been updated:
https://jocoreport.com/suspect-turns-himself-in-following-deadly-shooting-of-child/
Nov. 29, 2025
CLAYTON — A 12-year-old boy was fatally shot Friday evening after a weapon discharged inside a crowded apartment in Clayton, according to Clayton Police Chief Greg Tart. Officers are searching for a 20-year-old man accused of manslaughter.
Chief Tart said officers initially responded around 5:30 p.m. to a weapons-related disturbance in the 300 block of Commodore Street when several people ran from a nearby apartment yelling that someone had been shot.
Officers entered an apartment in the 400 block of Commodore Street and found the child with a gunshot wound. Johnston County EMS treated him, but he died from his injuries at the hospital. His name has not been released.
Between 20 and 30 people were inside the apartment when the gun fired. Witnesses told officers the shooting appeared accidental and happened as people tried to hide weapons from police. It was initially unclear who pulled the trigger.
Police later identified Ty’ryn Anthony Zah’rel Washington, 20, of Kenly, as the person holding the gun when it discharged. A manslaughter warrant was issued after consultation with the Johnston County district attorney’s office. Washington fled after the shooting and remains at large.
Anyone with information on the case or Ty’ryn Washington’s whereabouts is asked to contact Clayton Police at 919-553-4611 or Johnston County’s non-emergency line at 919-934-9411.
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27 Comments
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I appreciated the formatting — easy to skim and still informative.
Tragic. Not surprised it’s Section 8 housing.
Sir!!!!! You are worried about what they’re living in it is not even about that it’s about them having a home but also about stopping gun violence STOP THIS NOW #LLK💔❤️ GET THESE YOUNG KIDS AND GUNS OFF THE STREET
Gun violence?
Surely you mean young adults shooting people? Please don’t imply the problem is caused by an object not a person.
A young man decided to take a gun to this party. That is where the responsibility lies.
Right.. prayers to the young boy’s family
Wow 🤦♂️ How bout say it’s sad pray for the family cmon
Not only was your comment unnecessary it’s was bigoted and very much coming from a place of evil but woefully misinformed but happily so mind. The “usual school shooter suspects” make up more social welfare program users than any other demographics in the United States…..more abusers also when properly documented and reported!!!
This could have happened in a 1.2 million dollar home in an extremely rich neighborhood. Your comment is your opinion I get that but just know gun violence occurs EVERYWHERE! May God bless you and your way of thinking.
Guns don’t commit violence, people do. Guns are inanimate objects that can do nothing of themselves. They take on the characteristics of the individual holding them. A brick is an inanimate object as well. It can do nothing of itself as well. In the hands of a skilled builder it can build libraries, hospitals, schools. In the hands of a criminal it can crush a persons skull, break a windshield. Until people start understanding that humans must take accountability for their choices, we will continue to see things like this. Stop deflecting responsibility to the gun.
Sir!!!!!YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE WRONG THING AS LONG AS HE A DECENT OFF WITH FOOD AND CLOTHES ON HIS BACK ITS ABOUT GETTING THESE GUNS OFF THE STREET AND THESE YOUNG KIDS OFF THE STREET#LLK❤️💔 #STOPTHEGUNVIOLENCE
When you promote smoking dope as a recreation, there will be weapons as part of the culture. You can’t fix this without Jesus Christ!
Thank you
They weren’t on the street. They were in an apartment.
There goes his life. Such a shame.
I wish this was section 8 and I pay 1529
Someone please let me know when the protests and riots start.
I can definitely tell by some of these comments what race you are . Sad times that we are living in . You have no compassion at all . This young innocent child lost his life !
Sir/madam, your statement is racist. Also, you fail to see the point of my post. I will not try to explain as your obvious prejudice prevents you from dealing with rational and logical thought. Prayers for your mental health.
His picture looks like a mugshot. How’d they get it already ?
Probably from a previous crime this individual committed. Just guessing.
That 12 year old is my nephew my Only nephew. Section 8 has NOTHING to do with this he happens to live in a home his mother my sister owns he was just visiting his grandparents for Thanksgiving. This article is just as false as this article. My nephew was murdered this was no accident and he deserves justice. Also he didn’t pass away at the hospital he passed away on the way to the hospital. So Joco report and anyone else with negative comments please get your facts straight before making anything public this child has a family that is grieving without all the negativity
These cowardly racists make me sick and they need to quit letting them leave those types of remarks up here.. Country Bumpkins..
“Cowardly fascists” and then you call them racists……..pot meet kettle.
This 12 year old is my nephew my ONLY nephew who happens to live in a home owned by his mother my sister he was just visiting his grandparents for Thanksgiving. My nephew was murdered this was no accident. Half of this article is false information. My nephew didn’t pass away at the hospital he passed away on the way to the hospital. So Joco report and anyone else with negative comments and false information please get your facts straight before you give out inaccurate information. Thank you to those praying for my family.
This could have happenned anywhere no matter there housing status now there is a lil boy gone way to soon and a family broken . Guns don’t kill people people kill people praying for the family
This is so tragic and sad
20 yr old man sought by cops for accidental shooting so sad for the boy that died and for this young man
Well, it seems Clayton has wanted to be a big city, well with that comes the big city problems. Clayton used to be a great town to live in as a whole but now with overcrowding of people it has become ridden with crime. I commend the officers for what they do, but they need to hire more and start cracking down on crime more. I see way too many officers running radar on the side of the road when they could be in the some of the higher crime areas making arrests and conducting foot patrols.. It’s tragic what happened but it what happens when you grow at the rate that Clayton has… Prayers for the little man who got killed and I hope the man gets caught swiftly and locked up..