Wilmington police increase patrols ahead of Azalea Festival days after deadly stabbing

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — Wilmington police are increasing patrols ahead of this weekend’s North Carolina Azalea Festival taking place just days after two unrelated stabbings early Sunday in downtown Wilmington, including one that left a 21-year-old Marine dead.

Wilmington Police Chief Ryan Zuidema said the department has been preparing for the festival for months and will deploy additional officers throughout the city during the events.

“Azalea Festival is something we plan for months in advance,” Zuidema said. “Obviously a lot of people in town — we’re going to have a lot of resources that will be out in the community and a lot of officers working all the different events.”

Police said the stabbings occurred around 2 a.m. Sunday along North Front Street following multiple fights. One of the incidents resulted in the death of Daniel Montano, a 21-year-old Marine.

Investigators have released photos of a person of interest, saying the individual may have played a role in the incident.

A video of the stabbing circulating online has raised questions about how officers responded. Zuidema said the footage does not fully capture the situation officers faced.

WWAY has reached out to online accounts who have shared the video, but has been unable to get permission from the original photographer to share the video.

“That video captures, in essence, a two-dimensional depiction of a three-dimensional incident,” he said.

Zuidema added that officers must follow specific protocols before rendering aid to a bleeding victim.

“At the tail end of the video in question, you see the officers go over and start to render aid,” he said. “All of this took place from the time that these officers initially see something that is going on and the time they are rendering aid is less than thirty seconds.”

A second, unrelated stabbing occurred nearby. Police said Jazya Muldwo-Green was arrested Tuesday in connection with that incident.

The violence comes weeks after an officer-involved shooting in a downtown parking deck on Market Street that left Edilberto Espinoza Sierra dead. Sierra’s sister addressed Wilmington City Council on Tuesday, raising concerns about how her family was notified.

“We were never informed of his death until 10:00 a.m. that morning when my little sister called me frantic,” she said. “I believe my parents were entitled to be told in person by someone other than their mourning 18-year-old daughter.”

Business owners in the downtown area say late-night incidents are not uncommon.

“It’s the same old story of the bars letting out at 2 a.m.,” said Tom Harris, owner of Front Street Brewery. “These crimes occur shortly after the bars let out.”

Zuidema said addressing late-night violence requires cooperation between law enforcement and local bars, including responsible alcohol service.

“Many of them are intoxicated — that certainly tends to lead to disorderly and disruptive behavior,” he said. “Any violent crime is too much crime, and certainly we are going to try and address that.”

Both stabbings remain under investigation. Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Wilmington Police Department.