NEW HANOVER COUNTY — A Wilmington man pleaded guilty to charges from a gang-related October shooting in downtown Wilmington, according to a statement from the District Attorney’s office Tuesday.
READ MORE: Second suspect arrested in downtown shooting from October
ALSO: Sunday’s downtown shooting was mobile, gang-related
The Wilmington Police Department’s Gun Crimes Task Force investigated the case and found 19-year old Tyshaun Windham responsible for an October 15 shooting that wounded a victim, who has since recovered.
In November, WPD executed a search warrant to arrest Windham on separate felony counts, following the October 25 arrest of 18-year old co-defendant Tristian Allen. Windham was held in New Hanover County Detention Center without bond while awaiting trial.
The DA’s office states Windham pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill Inflicting serious injury. He also pleaded guilty to felony larceny from stealing a vehicle and causing $2000 in damages three weeks before the shooting. The DA’s noted Windham did not have a criminal record prior to these incidents.
Superior Court judge Frank Jones sentenced Windham to 70-96 months in the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction followed by 36 months of supervised probation, as well as $2,217 in restitution for the larceny charge.
“This October incident was one of the largest shootings, as far as number of bullets fired, that we have ever seen in downtown Wilmington,” assistant district attorney Brad Matthews said in a press release.
According to the DA’s office, the shooting began in the early morning hours of October 15. Allen attempted to shoot a rival gang member at a crowded sidewalk near the intersection of Princess and Front Streets, but his gun was jammed and did not fire bullets.
Minutes later, 86 rounds were fired a block away near the intersection of Princess and Second Streets in a shootout between rival gang members from the 720 Gangster Disciples and the United Blood Nation. Shortly after, Windham shot Allen’s attempted target 12 times with a 9mm handgun, giving the victim serious but not life-threatening injuries.
“We are thankful that no one passed away during this violent incident and are grateful to our officers and detectives who worked tirelessly on this case,” WPD Chief Donny Williams said in a statement.
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