A neighborhood in the Creeks Edge Townhomes is reeling after a fatal exchange of gunfire claimed the life of a young man and left another injured. The shooting erupted just after midnight, turning an apartment complex parking lot into a crime scene and sparking a police homicide investigation.
The Fayetteville Police Department was dispatched to the 1400 block of Tangora Lane at approximately 12:32 a.m. on Monday, January 19, 2026. This area, off McDougal Drive, is part of a community of townhomes and quadplexes known as Creeks Edge Townhomes. Upon arrival, officers found two men suffering from gunshot wounds outside one of the residences.
The initial police investigation determined that the violence stemmed from an altercation between individuals who knew each other. What began as a fight quickly escalated into an exchange of gunfire. Tykese Aerian McFayden, 23, of Fayetteville, was pronounced dead at the scene. The second man was transported to a local hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and was expected to survive.
According to official statements, all parties involved were present on the scene when police arrived, and authorities have emphasized that this was an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the general public. The case has been classified as the Fayetteville Police Department’s third homicide investigation of the year.
As of the latest reports, the investigation remains active. Police have not released the identity of the second victim or announced any arrests in connection with the fatal shooting. The department’s Violent Crimes Unit is continuing its work to piece together the precise sequence of events.
The Fayetteville Police Department is urging anyone with information about this incident to come forward. Tips can be provided directly to Detective E. Alrafai at 910-723-0327 or anonymously to Fayetteville/Cumberland County Crime Stoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).
