SALISBURY — One week ago, 18-year-old Damien Carter Senesaynho was shot and killed in Kannapolis while on his way home. Family members have now established a GoFundMe account to help his mother cover funeral costs.

Senesaynho’s cousin, Latasha Stahlecker, said Damien was “on his way home and never got there.” The shooting took place the night of July 16 on Caribbean Court.

Police said Senesaynho was pronounced dead at the scene and family members have said one passenger was shot in the eye, suffering life-threatening injuries, and another pretended to be dead to avoid being shot.

Senesaynho’s mother, Riki Hyronemus, is hoping to find a way to have a headstone or plaque for her son where family and friends can visit.

“We don’t want people to go to where this happened to remember him,” added Stahlecker “We want to have a peaceful, safe place where everyone can go and remember Damien.”

The whole family moved to this area about six years ago from South Dakota, where Stahlecker said they “all grew up.” Not long after moving here, Senesaynho’s stepfather, Chad Hyronemus, died unexpectedly in 2019 at the age of 45 after a heart attack and a series of strokes, said Stahlecker, so Riki Hyronemus lost her husband and her son within five years, and “she’s struggling right now.”

She has three children still living at home, and the family is hoping for the community’s help in paying for services for Damien as well as other unexpected expenses. Senesaynho was driving his mother’s car at the time of the shooting and the vehicle struck a tree after he was shot. That leaves the family down a vehicle that they will eventually need to replace. 

Stahlecker described her cousin as “always happy, and he absolutely loved being on the water, whether it was the beach or the lake. We had actually planned on renting a boat and spending the day on the lake last weekend, and instead we had his memorial service.”

She said Senesaynho was determined to join the Army because “he wanted to make his family proud and to serve his country. Now he won’t get that chance.”

His best friend, Carlos, was like a brother to Senesaynho, and she said her cousin loved to eat, and Carlos’ family always had a plate ready for him at dinner time. Mexican and Hibachi foods were his favorite.

“He was a foodie. Every time he walked in my house he was looking for something to eat,” she laughed. “He always had a smile on his face. He could light up a whole room, and he had the cutest little giggle.”

 “We appreciate any and all help during this time, along with all the prayers our family can get,” Stahlecker said in the GoFundMe post.

In addition to his mother, Senesaynho leaves behind his two brothers Khai and Jaden, and his little sister Madison, extended family and his girlfriend, Ruby.

Neither passenger in the vehicle has been identified, and calls to both the city of Kannapolis and the Kannapolis police regarding any update on the case were not returned as of press time.

“We need more people to speak up,” said Stahlecker. “If anyone knows anything, please contact the police.” Anyone with information can call Sergeant Alex Quigley at 704-920-4048 or Investigator Arthur Reid at 704-920-4070. To remain anonymous, people can call Cabarrus Area Crime Stoppers at (704) 93-CRIME (27463).

“I would encourage people to be aware of their surroundings,” said Stahlecker, noting that the area where the shooting occurred “isn’t safe. Damien should have made it home.”

Anyone who would like to donate to help pay for Senesaynho’s funeral or to help the family can visit the GoFundMe established by the family at https://gofundme/6ea37581.