A quiet stretch of Fox Ridge Road in Hope Mills turned into a crime scene just after midnight Saturday, when a 16-year-old girl was shot and later died at the hospital, according to police. Officers say they found the teenager suffering from gunshot wounds shortly after arriving at the scene. The Hope Mills Police Department has opened a homicide investigation and is in the process of notifying the girl’s family.
Patrol officers were called out around 12:20 a.m., as reported by ABC11. Investigators told the station they have not released the teen’s name and that no arrests have been made. Police say they plan to share more details once they are able, but for now they are keeping a tight lid on information while they work the case.
What police say
WRAL reports that officers responded at about 12:15 a.m. and found the girl at the scene before she was rushed to a hospital, where she later died. So far, investigators have not identified a suspect or a clear motive, and the shooting appears to have unfolded quickly in the early-morning darkness.
Detectives are urging anyone who may have seen or heard anything, or who has information about the people involved, to contact Detective Labretta McBryde at (910) 425-3385.
Local context
The killing lands in the middle of a tense month for law enforcement activity in and around Hope Mills, including a recent high-speed pursuit that pulled in multiple agencies. That episode was covered in detail by high-speed pursuit, and some residents have told local outlets they want to see more resources and attention put toward public-safety concerns.
Anyone with tips about the Fox Ridge Road shooting is asked to call Detective Labretta McBryde at 910-425-3385 or 910-425-4103, or to share information anonymously through local Crimestoppers, as reported by ABC11. Police say the investigation is very much active and have asked the public to hold off on spreading rumors or unverified details while detectives work to piece together exactly what happened on Fox Ridge Road.
