WPD Chief: Heightened gang activity responsible for latest shootings
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – Multiple shootings this weekend continued into the week. Wilmington Police say it’s all related to a spike in gang activity.
The district attorney took a stand, preventing gang members from communicating. The city partnered and prosecuted with motels to deter crime. However, when asked how the numbers are doing, Chief Ralph Evangelous tells us these latest crimes involve both.
“There has been an uptick in gang activity no question about that,” said the police chief.
Here is the timeline:
- August 10th, shooting near Klein Road, victim located there
- August 11th, police trade gunfire with Klein Road suspects near Empie Park
- August 13th, 19-year-old shot around 1100 Campbell Street
- August 14th, 1:00 A.M. 45-year-old shot on Barclay Hills Drive
- August 14th, 9:00 P.M. 49-year-old man shot on Evans Street
Evans Street, Barclay Hills, as well as the Campbell Street shootings were all deemed isolated incidents.
Greer Hayes Old was arrested in relation to the Klein Rd. shooting (New Hanover County Sheriff)
However, police say a man was kidnapped and dumped after being shot multiple times along Klein Road last Friday and a day later, a gunfight and chase left a Wilmington neighborhood on edge.
“People being shot at, but there’s always not always but most of the time there’s a gang nexus there,” said Chief Evangelous.
Wilmington police report a slight increase in shootings this summer compared to last year.
Chief Evangelous says that is expected.
“Summers we’re always busier.”
Overall gun crimes are down compared to last summer. One of the key things that is different now from then is the gang injunction the District Attorney’s office has put in place to keep members separated.
Neighbors we heard from along Klein road, one of the recent crime scenes, don’t think the legal action is getting the job done entirely, but then again Evangelous feels the same way.
“We’re going to have to get more aggressive enforcement wise.”
The chief tells us the latest shootings all of stemmed from criminal activity along a Market Street motel, one not involved in a voluntary effort to inhibit crime like others.
“There’s some more work to be done out there and we’re going to work with our city attorney’s office and the district attorney’s office and try to tighten up some of these other hotels also,” said the chief.
A search continues for the second suspect involved in the weekend shootout with police. Chief Evangelous tells us he will look at increasing the effort to make hotels and motels more accountable to stop criminal activity.
