Family members say Wednesday afternoon one of 33-year-old Letitia Hammond's children came home and found her dead.
Paramedics and police were called to 710 S. Carolina Avenue around 6:30 p.m. and within minutes, the neighborhood was on lockdown "I started hearing people screaming here and running everywhere," neighbor Roberto Navarro recalled.
Navarro lives a few doors down from the scene. Police have not said how Hammond died, but Navarro says he heard gunshots and initially thought nothing of them.
"When I started seeing the firefighters coming here, I started thinking something happened," he said.
Soon, other neighbors heard the commotion.
"All I saw was just a bunch of police cars out here, and my porch was full of people and I thought my God, what's going on?" neighbor Eddie Stevenson asked.
Those who knew Hammond says she was quiet, and they usually saw her with her children.
"We're running a summer camp, and we invited the kids to a summer camp, and they were over yesterday, so I briefly just met her," neighbor Nelson Terry recalled.
Hammond had three children, two girls and a boy.
"It's an active and ongoing investigation," said Lt. Chris Ball, Henderson Police Department. "Numerous investigators are spending countless hours seeking out leads involving this case."
Hammond's friends are stunned by the news.
"I was devastated because she's a very sweet person," longtime friend Vergia Hayes said. "As long as I've been knowing her, she's never caused any trouble with anyone. She has sweet kinds, and I had really gotten attached to her. I just couldn't believe it."
Hammond's pastor says he hopes justice prevails.
"We're just praying that whoever have done this, that justice will prevail," Pasto C.J. Hale said. "Everyone's just totally appalled. The community's shocked because again, this young lady's character was impeccable. Very pleasant, very pleasant young lady."
Investigators say they don't believe Hammond's death is a random act so neighbors should not be concerned about a gunman being on the loose.
Detectives are asking anyone with information about the case to call Henderson police or Vance County Crimestoppers.
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