Two Wilmington men arrested on firearm charges

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Two Wilmington men have been arrested on firearm charges.

Shortly before midnight on October 19th, WPD officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert in the 800 block of S. 15th St. for a person who was shot in the leg. When officers arrived, they located Hykeem Durant, 34, suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

While officers were on scene, they say they also located a firearm which had been reported stolen. After an investigation and evidence collection it was discovered that Durant had a negligent discharge which caused his wound.

Durant was booked into the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center on November 4th. He has been charged with Possession of a Stolen Firearm and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Durant is under a $104,000 secured bond.

On October 30th, members of the Housing Task Force Unit conducted a traffic stop in the Creekwood area of Wilmington. During the traffic stop, it was discovered that Patrick Fields, 30, was in possession of a distribution amount of crack cocaine, according to police.

During an investigation police say it was discovered that Fields had prior possession of the firearm that Hykeem Durant had also possessed during Durant’s negligent discharge.

Fields was charged with Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon and Possession of a Stolen Firearm. The firearm charges were added to Fields initial drug charge, and he is currently in the New Hanover County Detention Center with no bond.