A tragic event unfolded on Christmas Eve in Gaston County when a 16-year-old girl was fatally shot. WBTV reports that a 14-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in relation to the incident. The arrest took place yesterday morning, a little over a week following the shooting. At this time, law enforcement have not released the names or any further details about those involved.
According to information obtained by WCNC, the incident occurred at around 11 a.m. along Barkley Street, in proximity to U.S. 321 and Interstate 85, north of downtown Gastonia. The Gastonia Police Department is continuing its investigation, and due to the ongoing nature of the case and the age of the suspect, authorities are limited on the specifics they can release.
WSOCTV's coverage of the story adds that the Gastonia Police Patrol officers, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, made the arrest at approximately 10:30 a.m. The departments worked in conjunction following the initial call to the scene of the shooting on Dec. 24.
Detectives worked to locate potential witnesses in the area, and as the case develops, more information is expected to be disclosed regarding the circumstances of the shooting and those involved.
