Business owner and workers react to the officer-involved shooting that happened during the weekend
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY)–In the days following a deadly officer-involved shooting in downtown Wilmington, some local businesses are speaking out about what this means for the downtown district.
On Wednesday night, protestors gathered at the Market Street parking deck, where Edilberto Espinoza Sierra lost his life
This kind of gathering brings unwanted attention to Downtown Business owners like Tom Harris.
“Look at things rationally. Look when events like these happen, which is nearly always, without exception, with the twenty years I owned that building, is before midnight,” said Harris.
That is the witching hour for Harris, half-owner of Front Street Brewery. He says the combination of drinking, socializing, and crowds can lead to confrontations like the one involving Sierra and his friend Rafael Martinez. After an altercation between two groups, Martinez was later arrested and charged with shooting David Corpus. In a video posted online, Corpus can be seen being aided by medical professionals. Moments later, Sierra drives his blue Charger out of the parking structure and is confronted by law enforcement officers. Police say he did not comply with the law enforcement’s commands and proceeded to drive forward. In a video online, the vehicle goes out of frame and gunshots can be heard.
“The takeaway from all this, is that alcohol and firearms do not mix,” said Harris. “When you have a situation like it occurred here, it was almost doomed to end badly.”
Harris says Wilmington is a great place for business but says that business owners also have a responsibility. He encourages bars and restaurants to control how they serve their clients.
“Something that needs to be done, is we need to keep the bars and bartenders from overserving,” said Harris.
Matt Delgrego, a bartender at Dram and Draught, says he also is worried about the current predicament that downtown Wilmington is in.
“Is it safe to come downtown? Is it ok, that’s the main concern, and it’s not,” said Delgrego.
Despite his concerns, Delgrego still knows that they will be open for business, and that they will be available for anybody who needs help.
“It’s important to come downtown, be in community, be with those people who are going to bring light in a dark time,” said Delgrego. “For me, that is what bars, restaurants, or any type of thing downtown, that’s why we are here.”
That is a sentiment that is echoed by Wilmington Police Chief Ryan Zuidema, who we interviewed in October of 2025. Police statistics indicate that incidents involving firearms actually dropped from 2024 to 2025.
“We have several crime analysts that look at information to make sure if there is a specific area that we are seeing,” said Zuidema. “Based on all the information, we re-allocate resources with our patrol officers. If we have a certain type of crime or stretch of crime, we make sure to spend more time in those areas.”
