Mother Cheri Smith and Adult Children Erin Poole and Amanda Smith Shot Dead in Fayetteville Triple Shooting

A Fayetteville, North Carolina neighborhood was rocked by gunfire Sunday night after a mother and her two adult children were shot and killed inside their home, police confirmed.

Officers with the Fayetteville Police Department were dispatched around 9:35 p.m. to the 5200 block of North Sumac Circle following multiple reports of shots fired. When officers arrived, they found Cheri Smith, 50, her 29-year-old son Erin Poole, and her 23-year-old daughter Amanda Smith suffering from gunshot wounds inside the residence.

Police said Cheri Smith and Erin Poole were pronounced dead at the scene. Amanda Smith was transported to a local hospital in critical condition but later died from her injuries.

During the investigation, detectives identified Nijyle Lewis, 25, of Fayetteville, as being involved in the incident. Police described Lewis as an associate of Cheri Smith.

According to authorities, Lewis had been stabbed multiple times during an altercation at the home before fleeing the scene to seek help at a nearby residence. He was later transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. As of Monday afternoon, police said Lewis was in stable condition.

Investigators believe an argument between Cheri Smith and Lewis escalated into violence, ultimately resulting in Smith and her two children being shot inside the home, while Lewis sustained multiple stab wounds during the confrontation.

Social media users have claimed Lewis may have acted in self-defense, though police have not confirmed those assertions.

Fayetteville police have obtained warrants charging Lewis with three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Cheri Smith, Erin Poole, and Amanda Smith. As of Monday afternoon, the warrants had not yet been served due to Lewis continuing to receive medical treatment.

Authorities emphasized that the shooting appears to be an isolated incident and stated there is no ongoing threat to the public. The investigation remains active as detectives continue to determine the full sequence of events that led to the deadly triple shooting.