Habitual felon pleads guilty to firearm charges

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Wilmington man is now a habitual felon after pleading guilty to the illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Darryl J. Waddell, 26, was sentenced up to 6 years behind bars.

On September 12, 2016, just after 11:00 p.m., officers with the Wilmington Police Department saw Waddell circling the residences at Creekwood housing community, then parking on private property and remaining in his car. Waddell consented to a search of his car and was patted down by officers. They recognized what felt like a firearm in the his’s front pocket. Waddell reached toward this pocket and was placed into custody.

During this time, safety patrols of the Creekwood area had been increased for the local residents after a shooting 9 days prior involving 38 rounds that were shot, seriously injuring 4 people and killing a local man.

This shooting occurred about 100 feet from where Waddell parked his vehicle. Officers learned that Waddell had previously been convicted of felony breaking and entering in March 2009, Possession of Cocaine in August 2010, and Possession of a Firearm as a Felon in March 2016, six months prior to this event.