Shots fired at a Little League tournament Sunday morning in Wilson, N.C., has teams across the state withdrawing from the games.
Wilmington’s 8U Machine Pitch is among the exodus, as noted in a social media post Monday. The organization noted an “active shooting incident occurred near/or was directed at the baseball complex, in which our boys were currently playing.”
Gunfire rung out at the J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex around 10:30 a.m., while the fields were full with players, as South Durham Little League was playing Lake Norman. The tournaments consisted of 7-, 8- and 9-year-old athletes.
A video posted by Wilson news channel WITN shows coaches and players dropping on the field, yelling, “Get down, get down!”
According to the initial release from the Wilson Police Department, at first officers treated the incident like an active-shooter was on site but determined shortly thereafter it was not.
They located two vehicles they suspected could be involved in the situation. Officers found the owners, who ended up being attendees to the games, the release explained.
As of Monday, the Wilson Police Department confirmed three shots were fired. No injuries were confirmed and only a parked van in the lot near field two was impacted, with its windows shot.
The Wilmington Little League noted the response time was quick among agencies involved, including Wilson County Sheriff’s Department and N.C. State Highway Patrol.
“All players and families are safe and home at this time,” it stated on social media. “It was a very difficult day for everyone involved.”
The Wilson Police Department is actively investigating the shooting and asks anyone with information to contact 252-399-2323 or Crime Stoppers at 252-243-2255.
“We are utilizing all of its resources to determine the cause of yesterday’s event. The department understands the importance of this investigation and the implications that it has on our community,” a release noted.
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