6-year-old child, several others injured during shooting in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Four people, including a 6-year-old child, were injured in a shooting Sunday night in Wilmington.

Police say among the victims are a 33-year-old male, 36-year-old male, six-year-old male, and a sixteen-year-old male. One of the adult victims is listed in critical but stable condition.

Donny Williams with the Wilmington Police Department held a press conference Monday morning expressing frustration with the shooting.

“Whoever did this, you are a low down, dirty coward,” Williams said. “You shouldn’t be able to look at yourself in the mirror each day.”

According to police, shots were fired into a crowd gathered at the 200 block of North 31st Street at a celebration of life event for Devin Williams, the victim of a January homicide.

Donny Williams says it’s an especially tragic event given how young one of the victims is.

“Six year old kids are supposed to be hurt by falling off bicycles; from falling upstairs, from tripping and falling,” Williams said. “Not from gun fire.”

Wilmington City Council member Kevin Spears shares the frustration of Chief Donny Williams, saying although progress is being made shootings remain regular events.

“No matter where we are or how far down the line we get, it’s a reoccurring thing,” Spears said.

Spears says he understands people’s growing concern with the rise in shootings, but says that you shouldn’t let it impact your day-to-day.

“I want the residents of Wilmington to still go out and live their lives,” Spears said. “Not feel like you’re victims in your own home or are captives in your own home.”

Despite the recent violence, Spears says he is optimistic things will turn around if everyone begins to work together.

“No matter where you live, we want Wilmington to be a safe and nice place for everyone,” Spears added.

Police Chief Donny Williams says the best way to make Wilmington safer is for people who know anything about the shootings to report it to the Wilmington Police Department.

“It’s important that we get these individuals and we get them in jail where they need to sit at,” Williams said. “This is unacceptable.”

Two separate shootings happened earlier on Sunday morning. Elijah Shepard was arrested after allegedly shooting into the air at the Waffle House on Market Street. No one got hurt in that shooting.

Also Sunday morning, police responded to a shooting in the 4100 block of Breezewood Drive. No one got hurt, but police found several shell casings and damage outside one of the condominiums.

Police say if you have any information on any of the shootings, contact the WPD. You can remain anonymous. You can send a message to 847411 using the keyword WPDNC. You can also use the Tip 411 app.