A man was killed and a woman was seriously wounded when gunfire erupted just before 1 a.m. Saturday within the Pembroke city limits, cutting into Lumbee Homecoming celebrations during the Fourth of July weekend. The shooting drew a large law-enforcement response to streets near the festival area. Authorities have not released the identity of the man who died, and investigators say information remains limited as the probe continues. Police told reporters they expect to release additional details later Saturday.
Investigation Under Way
Pembroke Police Chief Adrian Hunt said the investigation is in its early stages and that officers had only limited information to share, according to WPDE. A woman who spoke with the station said her 26-year-old daughter was hit by gunfire near her heart and lungs and was taken to a hospital in Chapel Hill; she told reporters her daughter could be released within about a week. Police said they have not provided information about a possible suspect or motive, and they did not immediately identify the man who was killed.
What Lumbee Homecoming Is — And Why This Matters
Lumbee Homecoming runs through Saturday and brings thousands of people to Pembroke for parades, powwows and performances, with many events hosted by the university, according to UNC Pembroke. Local coverage and event organizers say the gathering routinely fills the town and can complicate traffic and public-safety operations during the holiday weekend, as reported by the Robesonian. That scale helps explain why authorities moved quickly to secure scenes and canvass for witnesses after the shooting.
How To Report Tips
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact the Pembroke Police Department. The town's police page lists non-emergency contact details for tips, and the department can be reached at 910-521-5487, according to the town's police page (Pembroke Police). Local and county law-enforcement partners are coordinating on the investigation, and officials say they will provide updates as new details become available.
