A 28-year-old woman was wounded by gunfire while attending a party in Kelly, according to the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office. The shooting has triggered a multi-agency response, with the case now in the hands of investigators across county lines, and as of Monday, no suspect had been identified.
Victim Identified, Venue Named
The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office reported the shooting, as detailed by WBAY. According to Columbus County News, the woman has been identified as Maliyah Dale, who said she was shot while attending a party at River Ratz, described as an event venue and game room along N.C. 11 in Kelly.
The outlet reported that crime scene investigators were at the venue Sunday, as the probe into what happened at River Ratz got underway.
Conflicting Timelines on Her Arrival for Care
Exactly when Dale arrived for emergency care remains unclear, with two outlets reporting different accounts. WECT reported that deputies were called to ADR Fire and Rescue around 5 a.m. on Nov. 1 for a reported gunshot wound, while Columbus County News reported that a female gunshot victim arrived at Acme Delco Riegelwood Fire-Rescue just before 6 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. Columbus County News reported that Maliyah Dale told deputies she was shot while attending a party at River Ratz on N.C. 11.
Because the shooting happened in Bladen County, the case was turned over to the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, as WECT reported. Investigators have not identified any suspects, and the investigation remains ongoing, the outlet reported.
A Second Shooting the Same Weekend
Dale’s shooting in Bladen County was not the only act of gun violence reported during Halloween weekend in the region. WWAY reported a separate shooting at a home on Park Drive in Fair Bluff that left two men injured on Halloween night. The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office turned that case over to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
According to the SBI, an argument escalated into a fight shortly after midnight, and two men were shot during the confrontation. WWAY reported that investigators had not released the victims’ identities or any information about possible suspects or arrests in that case. Both shootings remain under investigation as authorities in two counties work to piece together what happened during a violent holiday weekend in the region.
