On Thursday, July 31, 2025, a deadly shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Avalon Fishing Pier in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, shaking the tight-knit Outer Banks community. The incident, which took place at approximately 2:37 p.m., resulted in one fatality and one person critically injured.

Kill Devil Hills Assistant Chief of Police Dana Harris reported that officers responded to reports of gunfire within four minutes of the initial call. Upon arrival, first responders discovered two individuals with gunshot wounds. One victim, a male, was pronounced dead at the scene. The second victim, also a male, was airlifted to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia, for emergency treatment due to serious injuries.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle immediately after the shooting but was swiftly identified through witness descriptions and vehicle information. Southern Shores Police, with assistance from multiple agencies including the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Dare County Sheriff’s Office, and others, apprehended the suspect during a traffic stop in Southern Shores. Authorities have confirmed the suspect is in custody, and there is no ongoing threat to the public.

While early reports suggested the suspect was Henry Hargis, a student at First Flight High School, no official confirmation of the suspect’s identity has been released by the Kill Devil Hills Police Department as of August 1, 2025. Similarly, the victims’ identities have not been disclosed, pending notification of their families. Claims that the victims were students at First Flight High School remain unverified by official sources.

Eyewitness accounts indicate the shooting may have stemmed from an altercation in the parking lot. One pier employee reported seeing a vehicle circling the area before shots were fired, with one victim struck in the chest and another in the leg. A bystander, referred to as Chrissy in local accounts, was deeply traumatized after witnessing the incident, initially mistaking the gunfire for fireworks. Another witness, Helen Ginter, shared on social media that her friend’s nephew, who was shot in the leg while fishing at the pier during a vacation, is undergoing surgery but expected to recover.

The Avalon Fishing Pier parking lot remains closed as investigators process the scene, and no one is permitted to leave the area until further notice. Assistant Chief Harris, with nearly five decades of law enforcement experience, described the event as an “isolated incident” and noted it was unprecedented in his career. The investigation remains active, with authorities working to establish a motive and further details.

In response to the tragedy, Austin Ayers, a Republican congressional candidate for North Carolina’s 3rd District, issued a statement expressing his condolences: “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 as well, and report any suspicious activity to 911 immediately.”

The shooting has left the Kill Devil Hills community and visitors to the Outer Banks reeling, as they grapple with the loss and trauma of this violent act at a popular local landmark. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.