A late-night shooting inside a South Street apartment in Kinston left a teenager in serious condition on Wednesday, according to police. Officers who rushed to the scene provided emergency aid to the wounded teen while investigators moved through the apartment, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses. During that initial response, police say they took one adult and one juvenile into custody.
In a June 30 case update posted to Facebook, the Kinston Police Department said the victim remains in serious condition and that a 15-year-old female juvenile has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, discharging a firearm within the city limits, and possession of a handgun by a minor. The same update notes that an adult, Helen Nicole Howard, faces four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and was also served with two unrelated orders for arrest. The department described the probe as active and said additional arrests are possible, according to the Kinston Police Department.
Scene and response
Local television coverage reports that officers were called to an apartment at 105 W. South Street before 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday. First responders provided medical aid while detectives processed the scene and interviewed witnesses, according to KBTX. Neighbors told the station they saw heavy police activity as investigators worked into the early morning hours.
Charges and investigation
The department’s Facebook update identifies the juvenile suspect and lists the weapons-related counts. It states that investigators collected evidence and referred the case to juvenile authorities for petitioning. The post also notes that the investigation remains active and that police expect additional arrests as detectives continue to follow up on leads, per the Kinston Police Department.
Legal implications
Under North Carolina law, contributing to the delinquency of a minor is typically prosecuted as a Class 1 misdemeanor, while assault with a deadly weapon that results in serious injury can be charged as a felony and carry significantly harsher penalties, according to summaries of state statute. What ultimately happens in this case will depend on the specific charges filed, the evidence developed by investigators, and whether prosecutors seek to transfer any juvenile matters to adult court (North Carolina Statutes).
The Kinston Police Department says the investigation is ongoing and urged anyone with information to call its tip line or Lenoir County Crime Stoppers. Contact details and tip information are available on the department’s website at Kinston Police Department.
