An 18-year-old woman who vanished from her Tampa, Florida, home more than two years ago is now in custody, facing charges in the fatal shooting of a young man in North Carolina.
From Missing Teen to Murder Suspect
Authorities say Gracie Elizabeth Faye Landa has been charged with murder in the May 30, 2024, death of 23-year-old Christopher Piedrasanta-Perez in Durham, North Carolina.
Landa was reported missing in June 2023 and was featured by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. By mid-2024, investigators said they believed she was in the Durham area — just months before she was linked to the deadly shooting.
The Fatal Shooting
According to the Raleigh News & Observer, the shooting happened shortly after 12:30 a.m. on May 30 near a local Durham park. Piedrasanta-Perez was sitting in a car with two women when two or three armed individuals approached and opened fire.
Piedrasanta-Perez was struck in the head and killed at the scene.
Police recovered around 40 shell casings from two different caliber weapons, pointing to multiple shooters.
Authorities have not revealed how they tied Landa to the killing, nor have they said whether others involved have been arrested.
Remembering the Victim
Family and friends described Piedrasanta-Perez as a “kind soul, respectful, funny, caring, loving, hardworking.” A GoFundMe campaign created to support the family read in part:
“His presence brought light and comfort to the family, had a sense of humor like no other, and now his absence has left a hole in our hearts. Our family is devastated by this loss… Nobody is truly ever prepared for an unexpected loss.”
Current Status
Landa was arrested on Monday and is currently being held in the Durham County Jail without bond. She is scheduled to appear in court on September 11, 2024.
Authorities have not announced a possible motive in the case, nor whether additional arrests are expected.
Once reported missing from Florida and believed to be at risk, Gracie Landa is now at the center of a North Carolina homicide investigation. With the victim’s family grieving the sudden and violent loss of their loved one, prosecutors prepare to pursue the case against Landa in what remains a tragic and unsettling turn of events.
