North Carolina A&T student found dead in apartment

Affectionately known as "Lil D," the 21-year-old, Wendell, N.C. native was the victim of at least one gun shot wound and police have no suspects or motive in the case.

The Southeast Raleigh High School graduate had not declared a major at A&T.

Students remembered Hodge's life on Facebook and around campus. His sister, Karla Hodge, started a Facebook group in his honor that at press time had nearly 1000 members.

A statement from his sister to that group said, "My brother Derek was my HEART and Iknow it was vice versa. Bad things happen to good people, surely my brother wasn't perfect but he was REAL and he loved everyone."

Students used the group to offer up their condolences to the family and share their fond memories, pictures and videos of a life cut short by violence.

A statement from incoming SGA president Marcus Bass said that, "He (Derek) left an amazing legacy of friendship, love and Aggie Pride that will forever remain with each life that he touched."

The Student Government Association will be having a memorial for Hodge in the NCB Auditorium at 5 p.m. today.

In a report in the Greensboro News & Record, Capt. Janice Rogers of the Greensboro Police Department said that no one else was in the home when officers arrived and that detectives were unsure of whether the residence was broken into.

Rogers was also unable to elaborate on the suspicious activity reported or who made the call to authorities.

Hodge's case is the seventh homicide in the city since the year began.

Mike McCray is editor in chief of The Register, the North Carolina A&T State University student newspaper, which originally published this article. Register staff writer Stacie Bailey also contributed. The article is reprinted from Black College Wire.