Tuesday, November 12, 2024

One shot, one charged with attempted murder following WPD car chase

27-year-old Kendrick Jihad Johnson was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted murder along with felony fleeing to elude. (Courtesy Wilmington Police Department).

WILMINGTON — One man is in the hospital, another in custody after police responded to a gunshot victim near the Wilson Center on June 20. 

Early Monday morning, Downtown Task Force Units were alerted to a potential shooting and discovered a 36-year-old man laying on the sidewalk in the 600 block of N. 3rd Street in Wilmington, according to a department press release. 

Additional officers were called to the scene but their attention was redirected to a “suspicious vehicle” with no headlights on leaving the area of the shooting. A chase ensued after the vehicle failed to pull over for officers. According to the release, the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Kendrick Johnson, drove head on at officers before fleeing.

Johnson was eventually apprehended at the border of Pender and Duplin counties after fleeing the vehicle following a successful police PITT maneuver. A WPD K9 was deployed to catch Johnson, who dropped a gun after exiting his car.   

Johnson is charged with first-degree attempted murder, which carries a life sentence, and felony fleeing to elude. The gunshot victim was transported to a hospital by EMS.

This is an ongoing investigation. 

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