On Wednesday, March 15, at approximately 10:01pm, the Statesville Police Department responded to a call for shots fired on Goldsboro Avenue. Officers arrived on scene and located subjects advising that subjects in the house had been shot. Upon entering the residence, officers located Zion Wilder, 19 of Statesville, deceased on the floor from an apparent gunshot wound to the head. A second victim, a 15-year-old male from Statesville, was also located inside the residence suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.
Iredell County EMS and the Statesville Fire Department responded to the scene. The 15-year-old victim was transported to Iredell Memorial Hospital for treatment and later transported to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center via Air Medical Transport where he is listed in critical condition.
The SPD Violent Crimes Unit responded to the scene and began an investigation into the incident. The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation was contacted and responded to assist with processing the crime scene. The preliminary investigation revealed that unknown suspects fired multiple rounds into the front of the residence, from the street, striking both victims. In addition to the victims, three adults and three juveniles, ages 14,16 and 17, were also inside the residence at the time of the shooting.
The Iredell County Sheriff’s Department and Mooresville Police Department also responded to the scene to assist with securing the crime scene and crowd control.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the incident is requested to contact the Statesville Police Department at 704-878-3406.
In a separate, unrelated incident at approximately 1:28am while officers were on scene at the Goldsboro Avenue incident, officers heard shots fired near the intersection of Fayetteville Avenue and Fifth Street. Officers located two juveniles in the area and upon approaching them, one suspect fled on foot. Officers pursued the suspect and during the foot pursuit the suspect dropped a loaded 9mm pistol. The 14-year-old juvenile was taken into custody and the firearm was seized. N.C. Department of Juvenile Justice was contacted and declined to pursue a secured custody order for the juvenile. The juvenile was charged with Possession of a Handgun by a Minor, Carrying a Concealed Handgun and Resist, Delay or Obstructing a Public Officer and was later released to his mother.