WILMINGTON — The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has released the name of a suspect officers opened fire at in a downtown parking deck over the weekend.
Edilberto Espinoza Sierra was killed after he attempted to flee law enforcement who approached him as a suspect in a Market Street parking deck shooting. The shooting left one male wounded who sustained serious injuries.
The incident took place around 3:15 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, and witness accounts led officers from WPD and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office to a vehicle with multiple people who were detained. Officers also approached a second vehicle due to the driver matching witness accounts; however, the motorist accelerated. In doing so, the driver struck another vehicle and narrowly missed officers.
The move prompted police to respond with gunfire, according to WPD, due to imminent threat to immediate civilians and other law enforcement. Sierra died, despite life-saving measures attempted at the scene.
WECT reported Monday in an exclusive interview with Sierra’s family they believe their son and brother was innocent and unarmed. They have called the shooting an “injustice” and plan to hold a protest at the parking deck location at 115 Market St. on Tuesday, March 10, 10 a.m.
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