KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. — A devastating shooting unfolded in the parking lot of the Avalon Fishing Pier in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, on Thursday, July 31, 2025, claiming the life of one teenager and leaving another critically injured. The incident, described as isolated by authorities, has shaken the tight-knit Outer Banks community.
At approximately 2:37 p.m., the Kill Devil Hills Police Department received multiple reports of shots fired at the popular oceanfront pier located at 2111 N. Virginia Dare Trail. First responders arrived within four minutes, finding two male victims with gunshot wounds. One victim, a teenager, was pronounced dead at the scene. The second, also a teenage male, sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and was airlifted to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital for emergency surgery. Family members report that the surviving victim is expected to recover, though his current condition remains undisclosed.
The suspect, identified through witness descriptions and vehicle information, fled the scene in a car but was swiftly apprehended during a traffic stop in Southern Shores, approximately eight miles away, by the Southern Shores Police Department. Multiple agencies, including the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Dare County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina Highway Patrol, Kill Devil Hills Fire Department, Kitty Hawk Police Department, and Nags Head Police Department, assisted in the response and investigation. Authorities have confirmed the suspect is in custody, and there is no ongoing threat to the public.
While some reports have identified the suspect as Henry Hargis and the deceased victim as Zane Hughes, both allegedly students at First Flight High School, the Kill Devil Hills Police Department has not officially confirmed these identities, pending notification of the victims’ families. Similarly, claims that the victims were students at First Flight High School remain unverified by official sources as of August 1, 2025.
Eyewitness accounts suggest the shooting may have stemmed from an altercation in the parking lot. One witness, speaking to Channel2 NOW, described a traumatic scene where a bystander, identified only as Chrissy, held one of the victims as he died. “She thought it was fireworks at first—then she realized what had happened,” the witness said, noting the emotional toll on those present. Another witness, Helen Ginter, shared on social media that her friend’s nephew, the boy shot in the leg, was in surgery. “He was just fishing while on vacation,” she wrote. “We’re thankful he’s going to be okay.”
The Avalon Fishing Pier and its surrounding parking lot were promptly closed off, with crime scene tape restricting access as investigators processed the scene. Vacationers and residents reported hearing multiple shots and witnessing the ensuing chaos, with some rushing to assist the victims.
Kill Devil Hills Assistant Chief of Police Dana Harris, with 48 years of law enforcement experience, addressed the community during a press conference at 5:30 p.m. on July 31, streamed live on the Town of Kill Devil Hills’ Facebook page. “This is an isolated incident,” Harris emphasized, adding that he had never encountered such an event in his career. He declined to provide details on the suspect’s criminal history, the motive, or the relationships between the involved parties, citing the active investigation and the need to notify next of kin.
The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of grief and support from the community. Austin Ayers, a Republican congressional candidate for North Carolina’s 3rd District, issued a statement: “My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in this incident unfolding in Kill Devil Hills right now. Please respect all first responders at the Avalon Pier. They are doing their job. If they request you leave the area, please do. Please remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to 911 immediately.”
The investigation remains ongoing, with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the District Attorney’s Office assisting. Formal charges against the suspect have not been announced, and the identities of the victims and any potential witnesses are being withheld pending further notification. The Kill Devil Hills Police Department has promised to provide updates as new information becomes available.
