WILMINGTON — Since late November, there have been six reported incidents of gun violence in Wilmington, leaving at least a half-dozen victims. The Wilmington Police Department (WPD) continues to investigate.
The shootings took place between 17th and 5th streets, between Friday, November 22 and Sunday, December 1. Of the six victims, three were seriously injured, but there have not been any fatalities.
On Tuesday, WPD spokesperson Linda Thompson provided updates on the shootings. According to Thompson, five of the shootings were tied to gang activity in some way, while one was an isolated domestic incident. To date, detectives have been unable to determine if the shootings are related.
So far, there has only been one arrest directly related to a shooting — but the man taken into custody was returning fire at an unknown shooter who is still at large. WPD has made other arrests for outstanding warrants and, in one case, assaulting officers who responded to the scene — but these arrests weren’t for the actual shootings.
Six shootings
(1) The string of shootings began on Friday, November 22. WPD officers to a “multiple-round ShotSpotter alert” near Orange and South 11th streets and found two men with gunshot wounds and a large crowd; a third victim who arrived at New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC) was later tied to the same shooting. All three suffered “non-life threatening injuries,” according to WPD.
Thompson said the large crowd had been drawn outside by a dispute, but it was not yet clear if it was gang-related. Some of those in the crowd rushed officers as they attempted to provide medical assistance to the victims. Thompson said while several gang members were present in the crowd, it was not clear why they rushed officers and, in at least one case, assaulted them.
Witnesses at the scene said they saw a silver sedan, but didn’t provide much further information. So far, there have been no arrests.
(2) The second shooting was on Sunday, November 24, at the Houston Moore housing complex at 1316 Greenfield St. around 10:30 p.m.
According to Thompson, police believe an unidentified suspect opened fire from a vehicle. A Chrysler minivan was damaged, but there were no reported injuries. Apparently, no one cooperated with officers who were looking for witnesses.
(3) The third shooting was on Tuesday, November 26 at 617 Red Cross St. The shooting took place shortly after noon in front of the Tru Colors office at the corner of Red Cross and North Sixth streets; Tru Colors owner George Taylor said the 19-year-old victim of the shooting was not a Tru Colors employee.
WPD later arrested Koredreese Robert Tyson, 27 — but according to Thompson, Tyson didn’t shoot the 19-year-old victim, but instead was returning fire at an unknown suspect who is still at large. Taylor has not yet responded to questions about whether Tyson is or has been a Tru Colors employee, although he is pictured in several Instagram posts from Tru Colors, including one posted after the shooting.
(4) The fourth shooting took place on Wednesday, November 27, around 10 p.m. at 13 North Liberty Court in the Hillcrest housing development. A housing unit was struck by at least one bullet; ShotSpotter was triggered and officers were dispatched. There is no new information about this shooting at the current time, Thompson said.
(5) The fifth shooting took place on Thanksgiving, November 28; a man was found with a serious gunshot wound on the 3000 block of Princess Place Drive shortly after 10 a.m. According to WPD, witnesses said the man was shot while walking through a vacant field in the area. After being wounded, the man apparently ran towards the nearby Creekwood housing community and collapsed near Emory Street.
Unlike the other five shootings, this incident did not have any gang ties, according to Thompson, who said it was an isolated incident; apparently it was a domestic dispute over a girlfriend that escalated to violence. Police have not yet made an arrest.
(6) The sixth shooting took place on Sunday, December 1, near 6th and Swann streets — several blocks from the Wilmington Police Department headquarters. Officers heard gunfire around 11 a.m. and responded.
On the scene, officers found a victim bleeding badly from a gunshot wound; an officer applied a tourniquet and was able to keep the victim stable until emergency medical workers arrived.
An office spotted the suspect vehicle, a white four-door SUV, and pursued it — the vehicle was able to escape.
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