Underage murder suspect accused in Serenity Spencer killing taken into custody near Raleigh home

Saturday, September 7, 2024
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Syncere Pigford, a young man investigators said was involved in the shooting death of 24-year-old Serenity Spencer, was taken into custody Friday.

It happened at a home near the intersection of King Charles Road and Surrey Road. That's located about a mile from Enloe High School.

Pigford is the third young suspect taken into custody in the Spencer investigation. Spencer was found shot dead in her Wendell home back in June.

The other suspects in the murder case are two brothers Xavier Atkinson, 19, and Kahlil Atkinson, 18. Both are behind bars with no bond. The pair were formally arraigned Wednesday in the Wake County Courthouse.

As for Pigford, he had recently gotten in trouble for trespassing at Enloe High School and Broughton Magnet High School. Wake County Public School System tells ABC11 he is listed as a student at Southeast Raleigh High School.



His activity at other schools in the district caused fear and worry for some students and families.

Watch Raleigh Police Lt. Jason Boreno talks youth gun violence, community engagement in ABC11 exclusive
Full Interview: Raleigh Police Lt. Jason Borneo talks youth gun violence, community engagement


"With everything that's happened in the news it's a little scary because you don't know what's going to happen," Enloe High School student Angel Mitchell-Morris said. "Just glad they got that situated because it had a lot of people worried."

Investigators received word Pigford was at a home near Enloe High School and responded quickly.

Lorie Howard lives in the neighborhood. She was on a work call when he heard screaming outside her window.



"I was so nervous. I was shaking. It was so scary. Like, just all of a sudden, there were dozens of cars pulled up in the yard, cars up along this road here. And then I saw a couple of people on the ground, them being surrounded, you know, arms behind their back," she said.

Tracking crime and safety across Raleigh, Durham and your neighborhood
Copyright © 2024 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.