Wilson Mom and Son Remembered After Tragic Shooting Involving Anti-Violence Advocate

A Tragic Event Shakes a Close-Knit Community

A devastating incident has left the tight-knit community of Wilson in deep sorrow after a triple shooting occurred on Monday. The tragedy claimed the lives of 44-year-old Natasha Sutton and her 21-year-old son, Avantae Pender. According to legal documents, law enforcement suspects that the shooter is 39-year-old Donta Chestnut, a well-known figure in the neighborhood.

In addition to the initial suspect, a second individual was charged on Tuesday night. Tiffany Chestnut, 36, who is Donta’s sister, is facing two felony charges for allegedly returning the gun used in the shooting to the suspect after he dropped it while fleeing the scene. She appeared before a Wilson County judge on Wednesday morning following her release on bond the previous night.

Donta Chestnut had been recognized for his efforts in the community, particularly his work with youth and his advocacy against gun violence. He had previously run for city council in 2023 and founded the nonprofit organization Our Wilson. Despite his positive contributions, the recent events have cast a dark shadow over his legacy.

Pastor Bishop Sherman Blandon of Mount Moriah Community Church-Wilson expressed the community's grief. “We are just grieving,” he said. “There's a lot of people who don't understand why. Don't understand what happened. The unfortunate reality is some of us may never know. But in moments like this, no one wins. And it just leaves a big hole in the community.”

Several family members were seen cleaning out a home on Washington Street where the shooting took place. They shared with ABC11 that Chestnut had come to the house to collect rent and possibly evict Sutton if payment wasn’t made. In a video that was later deleted from Facebook, Chestnut can be heard urging Sutton and Pender to leave the home. According to family members, another video captured Chestnut firing a weapon, followed by an alleged pistol-whipping of a relative and the shooting of Sutton’s sister, Tiffany Fogg.

“We've got everything. He'll never see the light of day again,” said a family member who wished to remain anonymous.

Blandon emphasized the lasting impact of Chestnut’s actions on those affected. “Taking someone's life is never the answer. And realizing that certain consequences...he was very active, it was part of his life's work,” he added. “To the children that he worked with, I know that there's a huge hole in their hearts and a lot of them are trying to understand.”

Sutton’s cousin, who also knew Chestnut, shared her feelings of grief. “Even if Natasha owed money or whatever the case was, that wasn't it. Violence and her death wasn't it. Doesn't really matter if that was my family member or not. It's still wrong. But it hurts more knowing it was my family,” she said. “Even as a business owner, you can't take matters in your own hands. I know. The thing is, it doesn't matter what good he did. It does not matter. And I guess people are not standing up for that. It's more of that good that you did is out the window with me because September 15th is when your bad kicked in. And it wasn't just bad, it was double homicide.”

Chestnut remains in jail without bond and is scheduled to appear in court on September 30. As the community grapples with the loss, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges surrounding violence and the need for continued dialogue and support.