A celebratory gathering was marred by a burst of violence late yesterday in Lillington, Harnett County, when a fight erupted, culminating in gunshots that left one woman dead and two others injured. In a statement obtained by CBS17, the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office reported deputies arriving on the scene at around 11:30 p.m. after receiving a call about a shooting on Bethea Road near Shawtown Road.
A chaotic scene unfolded upon the deputies' arrival, with three gunshot victims discovered among the remnants of the celebration. A man and a woman, the Harnett County EMS having transported them to a nearby hospital, where they were receiving medical care. A second woman, however, was pronounced dead at the very site where revelry had given way to tragedy, as per ABC11.
The gathering that turned fatal was a birthday party, which, according to a WRAL report, drew a crowd of up to 200 people. The same source indicates that an argument between several individuals at the party escalated, resulting in gunfire. The suspect responsible for the shooting had fled the scene before law enforcement officers arrived.
An investigation led by the Harnett County Sheriff's Department is actively piecing together the night's events. Witnesses from the large crowd gathered at the house party, containing at least three people shot, have been cooperating with officials.
