What started as a lingering feud between groups of teenagers erupted into a stabbing in downtown Greenville early Sunday, leaving three juveniles hurt and police sorting through a late-night melee. The fight broke out around 2 a.m. in the Uptown District, where officers found two wounded teens at the scene while a third showed up later at a local hospital. Police say all three suffered non-life-threatening injuries and are expected to recover, and they are treating the case as an ongoing dispute rather than a random attack.
Police Say Brawl Grew Out of Ongoing Teen Dispute
Greenville police said the stabbings happened on Cotanche Street in the city’s Uptown District and that two of the victims are 16 while the third is under 18, according to The Charlotte Observer. In a news release cited by the paper, police said detectives are still working to determine who had a weapon and to identify everyone who took part in the fight. Investigators say the violence appears tied to an ongoing dispute between two groups of teenagers, not a random street attack.
19-Year-Old Charged, More Juvenile Cases Expected
Officers have charged 19-year-old Isaiah Whitehurst with simple affray and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, according to WITN. Police said juvenile petitions will be sought for at least one 16-year-old tied to the incident, and they expect additional charges as detectives identify more of the teenagers who were involved.
Empty Lot Near Jimmy John’s Becomes Crime Scene
The stabbings took place in an empty lot next to the Jimmy John’s at 540 S. Cotanche Street in the Uptown District, police said, per The Charlotte Observer. The sandwich shop’s listing shows the address on a block packed with bars and ECU-area housing, and investigators believe bystanders in the area may have captured the fight on their phones.
What the Charges Could Mean Under State Law
Simple affray is typically prosecuted as a misdemeanor under North Carolina law, and prosecutors can use juvenile petitions or other criminal charges depending on what the investigation uncovers and how serious the injuries are. According to the North Carolina General Assembly, misdemeanor assault and affray offenses can bring fines or short jail terms, while tougher penalties can apply if a deadly weapon or serious bodily injury is involved. Officials note that the counts listed so far are early charging decisions that could change once detectives finish their work and the district attorney reviews the full case file.
Detectives Ask Witnesses to Share Video, Speak Up
Greenville police are urging anyone who saw the fight or recorded it on a phone to contact investigators as they sort out who did what in the overnight brawl, the department said, according to WITN. Detectives say witness accounts and cellphone video could play a key role in identifying everyone involved and in deciding what charges each person will face as the investigation continues.
