Man arrested for firearm straw purchase that may have led to Wilmington shooting

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington Police say a man is in custody for allegedly selling a gun to a minor who may have taken part in a shooting in Wilmington.

On February 4, Wilmington Police units responded to a shooting near Troy Drive just before 11 p.m.

Two juveniles were taken into custody, and officers arrested 20-year-old Jaquan Robinson and 19-year-old Cornelius Allen.

A search warrant was conducted and eight firearms were seized;  many of them were confirmed to be previously stolen.

One of the firearms was suspected of being an unlawful straw purchase and an investigation was conducted into the owner, 23-year-old Kavonte Devane of Currie.

Detectives found out Devane allegedly purchased several firearms in close proximity during October 2024 and November 2024. Further investigation determined that one of the firearms was unlawfully straw purchased for a minor whom was arrested while possessing this gun in November of 2024 in Downtown Wilmington.

Warrants were obtained on Devane for Felony Providing Material False Information on Government Document, Sell/Give/Transfer Handgun to Minor, Felony Conspiracy, and Misdemeanor Contributing to Delinquency of Juvenile.

Devane was taken into custody by Burgaw PD on February 26. He is  currently held without bond in the Pender County Jail.

The investigation is still on-going.

Anyone with information is asked to call the WPD at (910) 343-3609 or use the anonymous Tip 411 app.