RALEIGH, N.C. — The memory of 13-year-old Jaleeyah Tune will now be permanently linked to North Carolina’s fight against gang violence after Governor Josh Stein signed House Bill 1173, known as “Jaleeyah’s Law,” on Monday.
The legislation, inspired by the tragic death of the Goldsboro teen in December, strengthens the state’s Gang Suppression Act and enhances penalties for gang-related crimes while expanding resources for law enforcement and prosecutors.
Governor Stein said the new law honors Jaleeyah’s legacy while addressing the growing threat of gang violence.
“I am signing House Bill 1173 in memory of Jaleeyah Tune, a bright young girl whose life was cut far too short,” Stein said. “We must address the root causes of gang violence by giving young people a better path, and we must crack down on gang activity to protect innocent North Carolinians. I thank Representative John Bell for his leadership and the Tune Family for their strength.”
The signing marks the culmination of months of advocacy by Jaleeyah’s family, who stood alongside lawmakers, prosecutors, and law enforcement officials earlier this year to urge passage of the legislation.
At a press conference introducing the proposal, Jaleeyah’s mother, Whitney Brown-Tune, spoke through tears about turning unimaginable loss into lasting change.
“It means a lot. It means everything because she’ll be statewide, and everybody will get to know her name and save other lives as well because she was so loving and caring,” Brown-Tune said.
She also reflected on the daily pain of losing her daughter.
“Hard. Missing her. The absence of her. Her laugh, smile, blowing us up, dancing, asking for Takis and French fries, but just missing her. Her spirit.”
Jaleeyah’s aunt, Shalanda Tune, said the family hoped the legislation would send a clear message about the importance of preventing youth gang involvement.
“If we don’t give these kids either something more positive to do or real repercussions, we’re not going to be the last family y’all talk to,” she said.
The legislation was spearheaded by Wayne County Representative John Bell, who assembled a bipartisan coalition that included Representative Sarah Stevens, Senator Buck Newton, Representative Jimmy Dixon, prosecutors, law enforcement leaders, and community organizations.
During the bill’s introduction, Stevens, a senior Judiciary Committee chair and co-sponsor, emphasized the extensive work that went into crafting the legislation.
“One of my jobs as the Judiciary chair is to make sure we get the bill in really good form so that it’s ready to be passed and it’s clear and can be understood. We have done that,” Stevens said. “We’re honored to do this for you.”
Under Jaleeyah’s Law, North Carolina will strengthen its response to gang-related crime by:
- Creating two statewide resource prosecutors dedicated to gang prosecutions.
- Adding a criminal investigator focused on gangs, drug trafficking, fentanyl distribution, and organized crime.
- Updating definitions within the state’s Gang Suppression Act.
- Increasing penalties for recruiting minors into gangs.
- Enhancing penalties for gang-related firearm offenses.
- Clarifying what evidence prosecutors may use to prove gang activity in court.
- Increasing penalties for felonies committed as part of gang-related criminal activity.
Supporters say the law provides prosecutors and investigators with stronger tools to dismantle criminal organizations while helping protect communities from gang violence.
During the legislative push, State Bureau of Investigation Deputy Director Ernest Darroch said gang violence affects families across North Carolina.
“Gang violence is more than a crime stat or something you see on the news,” Darroch said. “It affects real people: parents who worry about their children walking home from school, neighborhoods that live in fear of retaliation and violence, and young people who feel trapped into making bad decisions.”
Chuck Spahos of the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys called the legislation a significant step forward in strengthening the state’s gang suppression laws.
“From this loss, hopefully some good can come and some badly needed tweaks to existing law and some enhancements in the existing law can put some real teeth in North Carolina’s gang suppression statute,” Spahos said.
He also praised the Tune family’s determination to honor Jaleeyah’s memory.
“What you have done to remember Jaleeyah’s legacy is going to ripple not just across the state, but I believe it can be model legislation for the country.”
The legislation received widespread support throughout the General Assembly before advancing to Governor Stein’s desk. It was also backed by prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, local governments, the Wayne County Board of Commissioners, the Goldsboro City Council, the Wayne County Board of Education, and the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce.
For the Tune family, the governor’s signature represents more than the passage of a bill—it ensures that Jaleeyah’s name will live on through a law intended to protect other children and families from experiencing the same heartbreaking loss.
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