Gunfire on Leonard Avenue in Albemarle left a juvenile in the hospital Monday night and a 19-year-old behind bars on an attempted first-degree murder charge. Police say the young victim was rushed to a hospital and remains in stable condition while detectives work to sort out what led to the shooting.
What police say
According to the Albemarle Police Department, officers responded to reports of shots fired on Leonard Avenue just off North Carolina Highway 24. When they arrived, they found a juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound and had the victim transported to a nearby hospital, where the person is listed in stable condition, police told WCNC.
Local context
The shooting comes on the heels of a mid-January homicide in Albemarle in which two juveniles were arrested, according to a press release from the Albemarle Police Department. With two serious cases involving young people in less than a month, investigators are asking residents to share any information that might help them understand a possible motive or connections between the incidents.
Arrest and charges
Authorities identified the suspect as William Abiormi Browne, 19, of Stanly County. He was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder and is being held without bond as detectives continue their work on the case, officials told WCNC.
Investigation and tips
Albemarle police say the investigation remains active and are asking anyone who was in the Leonard Avenue area or has video from the neighborhood to contact the department at 704-984-9500, or use the anonymous tip line at 704-984-9511, per the city’s news page from the Albemarle Police Department. Detectives say even small details could help them piece together what happened.
Legal outlook
The Stanly County District Attorney’s Office will review the case as it moves through the court system, according to the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys. As with all criminal matters, the charge is an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
