
WILMINGTON — Wilmington police are investigating the city’s 13th homicide of the year; the city has already seen four more murders than were reported in either 2018 or 2019.
A 31-year-old man was shot and killed early Monday morning on the east end of Princess Place Drive, a few blocks before it merges with Market Street.
Wilmington Police officers responded to the 4100-block of Princess Place Drive in reference to a shooting at 6:25 a.m. Monday morning. Charles Bernard Ross Jr. was found suffering from life-threatening wounds.
Ross was transported to New Hanover Regional Medical Center and died during surgery, according to police.
The fatal shooting marked the city’s 13th murder of the year, which has already seen a 44% increase in homicides compared to the nine fatalities reported in 2018 and the same number in 2019. The WPD reported 20 murders in 2017, the most reported by the department in the past decade, according to WPD spokesperson Jessica Williams.
Two of the 13 homicides reported in 2020 are still unresolved: Ross’ death, which is still under active investigation, and the murder of Brian Keith Glaspie on May 25.
Anyone with information about the two unresolved murders is asked to contact the Wilmington Police Department at (910) 343-3609 or use tip708.com to text information anonymously.