20-year-old Circle K clerk charged in fatal shooting, Greensboro's first 2026 homicide

A 20-year-old Circle K clerk has been charged with first-degree murder after a shooting that left a 59-year-old customer dead, city police say. The case marks Greensboro's first criminal homicide of 2026 and has prompted a criminal investigation and an appeal for witnesses.

Greensboro Police Department officers responded to the Circle K on E. Parris Avenue around 6:40 p.m. after a call reporting an assault with a deadly weapon. When units arrived, they found a 59-year-old man who had been shot. He was taken to a local hospital, and police confirmed on January 16 that he had died.

Witnesses identified the suspect as 20-year-old Kiheem Sessoms, who worked as a clerk at the gas station. Authorities say witnesses told officers Sessoms got into an argument with a customer that continued outside, where Sessoms allegedly shot the customer and then ran from the scene. Officers said Sessoms later turned himself in at the police department.

Sessoms was previously charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury; prosecutors upgraded the case to first-degree murder following the victim's death. He is being held without bond at the Guilford County Jail in High Point as the investigation continues.

Detectives are asking anyone who was inside the Circle K or in the parking lot around the time of the shooting to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously to Crimestoppers of High Point at 336-889-4000 or via the P3 Tips mobile app. To speak directly with a detective, members of the public can call 336-883-3224 and request the Violent Crimes Unit.

The shooting at a neighborhood gas station underscores persistent concerns about public safety in retail settings and the potential for workplace disputes to escalate into deadly violence. As the first homicide of the year in Greensboro, the incident will likely draw attention from residents, local leaders, and public safety officials monitoring crime trends and the allocation of policing and community resources.

For community members, the case is a reminder of the role of eyewitness cooperation in violent-crime investigations and the value of anonymous tip lines. Prosecutors will determine formal charges and next steps as evidence is gathered and witnesses are interviewed. The investigation remains ongoing, and officials say they will release additional information as it becomes available.