CONCORD, NC - Authorities confirmed that four people were injured in a shooting Friday night, November 21, in downtown Concord during its yearly Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.
Police said that the shooting incident was not a random act of violence and that the shooting was between two people who knew each other. The incident happened around 7:30 p.m. during the tree lighting event, WCNC reported. Police have identified three suspects in the shooting.
"A night of celebration for our community was interrupted by senseless violence, affecting everyone who was there," Concord Police Chief Jimmy Hughes said. "Our community showed great strength and resilience as everyone came together to help one another and our officers."
One of the alleged shooters has been identified as 18-year-old Nasir Ahmad Bostic. He remains hospitalized in critical condition and will be arrested upon his release from the hospital. He faces warrants for assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, and inciting a riot.
A juvenile suspect is also hospitalized and in critical condition. That individual faces petitions through the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice for assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, two counts of discharging into an occupied property inflicting serious injury, and inciting a riot.
Police also charged 17-year-old Keyvyonn Rayshaund Bostic as an adult with accessory after the fact and inciting a riot. He was not injured and was apprehended after the incident.
Two additional 17-year-old gunshot victims were hospitalized. One has been released while the second remains in critical condition. A WCNC Charlotte photojournalist was filming the event when he reported shots were fired around 7:30 p.m. The incident disrupted the event, with officers setting up crime scene tape shortly after.
Brett Ford is a balloon artist who was set up at the lighting. He said people ran after the gunshots were fired. "We had a line of probably 250-300 people, and then all of a sudden, you heard what you thought was fireworks, but it's about 40 minutes early for the fireworks," Ford said.
"And then all panic broke loose. Everybody scattered. Everybody started running, and people were falling." Longtime Concord resident Teresa Harris said she was angry after having to hide in a pizzeria's bathroom, saying a festive event was ruined by what happened.
"Everybody's traumatized!" she exclaimed. "People are on the floor in the restaurant, they're crying. Children are shaking, and parents are hovering over their children. This is ridiculous. This is not something that you want to experience, especially at a family event."
Donna Leatherman Cooke said the event was wonderful before the shooting. "It just became chaotic," Cooke said. "Everybody was running in different directions. At that point, it was hard to organize the situation. There's no room for violence in our world."
The city canceled the remainder of the event and asked visitors to leave the area. Police, Concord Fire, and Cabarrus County EMS were already at the event and provided immediate aid and evacuation assistance. Police continue to ask the public to submit videos and photos from the area to this link. Anyone with information is asked to call Concord Police at 704-920-5027.
Police said that the shooting incident was not a random act of violence and that the shooting was between two people who knew each other. The incident happened around 7:30 p.m. during the tree lighting event, WCNC reported. Police have identified three suspects in the shooting.
"A night of celebration for our community was interrupted by senseless violence, affecting everyone who was there," Concord Police Chief Jimmy Hughes said. "Our community showed great strength and resilience as everyone came together to help one another and our officers."
One of the alleged shooters has been identified as 18-year-old Nasir Ahmad Bostic. He remains hospitalized in critical condition and will be arrested upon his release from the hospital. He faces warrants for assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, and inciting a riot.
A juvenile suspect is also hospitalized and in critical condition. That individual faces petitions through the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice for assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, two counts of discharging into an occupied property inflicting serious injury, and inciting a riot.
Police also charged 17-year-old Keyvyonn Rayshaund Bostic as an adult with accessory after the fact and inciting a riot. He was not injured and was apprehended after the incident.
Two additional 17-year-old gunshot victims were hospitalized. One has been released while the second remains in critical condition. A WCNC Charlotte photojournalist was filming the event when he reported shots were fired around 7:30 p.m. The incident disrupted the event, with officers setting up crime scene tape shortly after.
Brett Ford is a balloon artist who was set up at the lighting. He said people ran after the gunshots were fired. "We had a line of probably 250-300 people, and then all of a sudden, you heard what you thought was fireworks, but it's about 40 minutes early for the fireworks," Ford said.
"And then all panic broke loose. Everybody scattered. Everybody started running, and people were falling." Longtime Concord resident Teresa Harris said she was angry after having to hide in a pizzeria's bathroom, saying a festive event was ruined by what happened.
"Everybody's traumatized!" she exclaimed. "People are on the floor in the restaurant, they're crying. Children are shaking, and parents are hovering over their children. This is ridiculous. This is not something that you want to experience, especially at a family event."
Donna Leatherman Cooke said the event was wonderful before the shooting. "It just became chaotic," Cooke said. "Everybody was running in different directions. At that point, it was hard to organize the situation. There's no room for violence in our world."
The city canceled the remainder of the event and asked visitors to leave the area. Police, Concord Fire, and Cabarrus County EMS were already at the event and provided immediate aid and evacuation assistance. Police continue to ask the public to submit videos and photos from the area to this link. Anyone with information is asked to call Concord Police at 704-920-5027.
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