20-year-old killed by stray bullet at Raleigh hotel: up to $5,000 reward offered

Two years after 20-year-old Michael Jordan was killed by a stray bullet, no one has been found responsible.

Posted 9:00 p.m. May 3 — Updated 1:44 p.m. May 4

Chelsea Donovan

, WRAL reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — Two years after 20-year-old Michael Jordan was killed by a stray bullet, no one has been found responsible.

Jordan was struck by a bullet on May 5, 2022, while walking through the second floor of Quality Inn on New Bern Avenue in Raleigh. Raleigh police said he was an innocent bystander in the wrong place at the wrong time.

His mom said Jordan, known as "Mojo," was at the hotel visiting a friend.

"He was friendly," Rhonda Thompson said. "We never met someone he didn't like; everyone loved him."

According to police, on May 5, 2022, gunshots rang out around 1 a.m., and multiple shots were fired into the hotel. One of the bullets went through a hotel room and hit Jordan in the side of the head as he was walking by.

"That day I tried to call him several times ... I couldn't get through to him, never spoke to him that day," Thompson said.

"This was horribly reckless ... to fire this many rounds, stray rounds," said Ashley Wilkie, the lead detective for the case.

Since that day, Raleigh police have been investigating and following up on leads, but they are falling short.

"We have ideas on some folks but [are] missing critical witnesses and information," Wilkie said.

Thompson remains steadfast in her quest for justice and closure.

"There is someone walking who committed a crime and they haven't brought them to justice," she said. "If you knew Michael, you would know he didn't deserve this."

Anyone with information about the case is urged to call the Raleigh Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 919-996-1193. You can also send information on the Crime Stoppers website at www.raleighcrimestoppers.org and click “Leave a Tip” on the top right of the page.

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest.

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