A house party in a quiet North Carolina community turned into a scene of horror overnight when gunfire erupted, leaving one person dead and 11 others injured.
Authorities were called to a home on Walnut Acres Drive in the Mountain View community near Hickory – about 60 miles northwest of Charlotte – around 12:45AM on Sunday (June 1), according to the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office.
Walnut Acres is a single-street subdivision about a 55-mile drive northwest of Charlotte.
Per a report from NBC News, the sheriff’s office confirmed: “As of this release, twelve victims have been reported,” adding: “One of these reported victims is deceased. Another of these reported victims is in critical condition. Several others remain hospitalized.”
Authorities have not disclosed whether the victims are related or if they reside at the home where the shooting took place.
A resident told WBTV the shooting broke out during a pool party, claiming the gunfire “occurred mostly outside and appeared to be random”.
Catawba County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Aaron Turk also reported that there were approximately 100 people at the gathering, including juveniles, the Hickory Record reported.
The crime scene, he said, spans several areas – inside the house, both the front and back yards, and even a neighboring yard. Multiple weapons were involved, and investigators are working to determine the types of firearms used.
The shooting is under investigation by the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office and the Hickory Police Department.
Special agents from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation were brought in to assist with the ongoing investigation and to help “establish a motive and identify those responsible,” the sheriff’s office said.
As of Sunday morning, no arrests had been made, and authorities had not released any information about possible suspects.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office at 828-464-3112.
Our thoughts at this time are with every person impacted by this tragedy
