UPDATE: 3 charged after shots fired, robbery attempt in Wilmington

April 18, 2024

Sydney Bouchelle,

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington Police responded to an incident near the corner of Market Street and Darlington Avenue Thursday afternoon.

A spokesman with the Wilmington Police Department says they responded around 1:31 p.m. in reference to a ShotSpotter activation.

Officers say they located two people who said they had been robbed.

Four suspects were were taken into custody shortly after officers arrived on scene.

One subject sustained non-life-threatening injuries as a result of being shot.

Lt. Greg Willett with Wilmington Police Department said WPD responded quickly thanks to the ShotSpotter activation system along with a 911 call.

“We were responding to a possible fight because there was a 911 call about that. But like I said, once officers were on scene, they were pretty quick in being able to determine that this was an attempted robbery,” Lt. Willett said.

Three people are facing charges following the incident.

Demere Ballard, 21, of Navassa, is charged with assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, and discharging a firearm in the city limits. Zykwan Mcquillan, 23, of Wilmington is charged with common law robbery. A 16-year-old is charged with posession of a firearm by a minor.

The fourth person taken into custody on the scene is not facing charges.