CLAYTON, N.C. — More than three years after the fatal shooting of Harley Alexander “Alex” Shirley shocked communities across Johnston County, North Carolina authorities have secured multiple convictions connected to the deadly attack that claimed the life of the 21-year-old and left another victim permanently injured.
Alex Shirley, the son of reality television personality Ronnie Shirley of Lizard Lick Towing, was killed on February 17, 2022, after attending a memorial balloon release for a friend. Investigators said the violence began in the Josephine Road area before Shirley was later discovered suffering from gunshot wounds in a vehicle that arrived at a Sheetz gas station in Johnston County. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities said Shirley was seated in a vehicle when multiple gunmen approached and opened fire. Prosecutors later stated that approximately 20 shots were fired into the vehicle. Shirley was struck multiple times and died from his injuries. His friend, Sophie Hagy, was also shot and survived but was left paralyzed from the waist down.
The investigation resulted in numerous arrests over the following years. Prosecutors alleged that several individuals participated in the attack, which investigators linked to gang-related activity. Court proceedings ultimately led to convictions for murder, attempted murder, and related firearms offenses.
In December 2024, Nathan Jackson was convicted of first-degree murder and other charges connected to the shooting. Because he was a juvenile at the time of the crime, he received a sentence requiring him to serve 40 years before becoming eligible for parole. Prosecutors described the conviction as a significant step toward justice for the victims and their families.
Additional developments followed in 2025, when another defendant, Joshua Stewart, received a sentence of more than three decades in prison for his role in the attack. Authorities also announced the arrest of a fifth suspect, expanding the scope of the long-running investigation.
Throughout the proceedings, family members of both Alex Shirley and Sophie Hagy spoke publicly about the lasting impact of the shooting. Loved ones described years of grief, recovery, and emotional hardship as they sought accountability for those responsible.
While the legal process has resulted in multiple convictions, the loss continues to be deeply felt by family, friends, and members of the Johnston County community. Alex Shirley is remembered by loved ones as a young man whose life was cut short far too soon, while supporters continue to rally around Sophie Hagy as she lives with the life-altering consequences of the attack.
