'Bright' North Carolina girl, 6, and 'devoted' mom shot dead by child's father in murder-suicide

On August 11, a "devoted" mother and her young "innocent" daughter were tragically shot to death in a murder-suicide in North Carolina by the child's father.

According to WRAL , DaQuan Marcato Jones, 32, shot his child's mother , Kiera Massenburg, 27, and the child, Zoey Jones, six; two other people were also injured in the incident.

Jones took off with the girl and Massenburg in the automobile from the Sharpsburg scene of that shooting. After he left Zoey at a house in Nash County with potentially fatal injuries, she was brought to the hospital and died the same evening, according to WRAL. One of the injured victims was reportedly in critical condition, while the other had been discharged from the hospital, according to the site.

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Authorities discovered Jones' car in the driveway of a residence on Jamie Rd. near Battleboro when they arrived, according to a press release posted on Facebook by the Nash County Sheriff's Office (NCSO).

Authorities discovered a woman, subsequently identified as Massenburg, dead in the car's backseat as they got closer to the scene. "As units were approaching the residence, they heard a gunshot come from inside of the residence. At this point, units surrounded the residence. A male subject then exited the side door to the residence and advised us that the suspect had shot himself," the press release read.

Then, in one of the house's bedrooms, authorities discovered Jones dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Jones had been freed from Edgecombe County Detention Center on August 10, according to jail records. He was incarcerated following an incident in July 2024 where he was accused of punching Massenburg in the face, breaking her nose and removing her teeth. He was charged with assault causing serious bodily injury.

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The two had allegedly been dating, according to the authorities. "Kiera was a devoted mother, a cherished friend, and a pillar of strength for all who knew her," a GoFundMe set up to help the family of Massenberg and Zoey pay for their funerals stated. "Her child, Zoey, was a bright and innocent soul who brought joy and love into the lives of everyone they met. The bond they shared was unbreakable, and their loss leaves an irreplaceable void in the hearts of those who loved them."

A felony assault that causes extensive physical trauma requires both an assault and the infliction of significant harm. The district attorney must demonstrate that the assault happened and that it caused significant physical harm in order for the state to file felony charges. A life-threatening physical trauma that causes permanent disfigurement or a protracted handicap is referred to as grave bodily damage.