HICKORY, N.C. — Friends and loved ones are remembering a man shot and killed Monday at Keating Pointe apartments in the block of 1120 2nd Street SE in Hickory.
Hickory police said that officers responded to reports of shots fired at around 5:40 p.m., where they found Keimarian Donyah Peterson, 22, of Hickory, deceased at the scene.
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Family members said Petersen had taken his nieces over to the Brown Penn Recreation Center and was walking back home when he was shot and killed.
Shelia Farley rushed to the scene after learning her grandson was hit gunfire and died feet from one of the apartments. She said her grandson spoke to her earlier.
“He said grandma, I’ love you to death,’” Farley said. “He would walk his little cousins and take them to the Brown Penn, and he was just walking from the Brown Penn over in this area and then there were gunshots. This area is infected. I just need everyone that hears this to pray for this area. Just pray for Catawba County”
A close friend, who didn’t want to be identified, said Peterson didn’t have any enemies and enjoyed playing basketball at the rec center.
“It was about who it happened to,” the friend said. “He was my homey. My close homey, so I’ll be thinking about him. It don’t even feel the same with him not being over here.”
Police said some apartments were hit by gunfire.
Investigators are trying to identify the vehicle involved in the shooting and the motive behind the crime.
“We need prayer here, lord,” the grandmother said. “We need God here on the land. Please keep this family in your prayers.”
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Peterson’s death is ongoing as police work to gather more information.
VIDEO: Deadly shooting under investigation in Hickory, police say
