Mother seeks answers nearly five months after son’s fatal shooting in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Nearly five months after her son was killed in Wilmington, one mother says she is still searching for answers and hoping someone will come forward with information.

Kathy Martin Harper remembers Daryl Scott as a son, a brother and a father who was working to build a better future.

But Harper says her grief is made harder by the belief that her son’s death was not random.

“He was targeted. He was shot in the back eight times,” Harper said.

According to the Wilmington Police Department, Scott was killed March 3 after officers responded to reports of gunfire near the 700 block of Marstellar Street. Police found Scott suffering from gunshot wounds, and he later died from his injuries.

Now, months later, Harper is asking anyone with information about what happened to come forward.

“Somebody knows something. Somebody knows something. And I pray to God that they come forth, that they have a heart,” Harper said.

Harper says she is also trying to preserve her son’s memory. She said a memorial near where Scott was killed was damaged, leaving her questioning who would do something like that.

“Somebody desecrated it, so I had to fix it again,” Harper said. “That just lets you know somebody knows. Hatred is demonic. It’s so demonic.”

Harper says the loss has affected Scott’s entire family, including his partner and his 5-year-old son, who are learning to move forward without him.

She says before his death, Scott was focused on turning his life around. Harper said he joined the LINC organization, rededicated his life to Christ, earned his commercial driver’s license, graduated from high school and had plans to continue his education.

“He was getting his life cleaned up so he could move forward with his life,” Harper said.