BREAKING: A tragic shooting at a Halloween party in Maxton, North Carolina has left two people dead, including a 16-year-old boy, and critically injured several others. The incident occurred early Saturday morning, October 28, 2023, around 1:15 a.m., at an outdoor gathering that attracted over 300 attendees.
According to Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins, 13 people were shot during a confrontation between two groups at the party, which was held in a rural area approximately 95 miles southwest of Raleigh, near the South Carolina border.
Wilkins confirmed that the deceased include a 47-year-old man, whose identity has not yet been released. One of the injured individuals was airlifted for urgent medical treatment, while others received care at local hospitals. As of Saturday afternoon, no arrests have been made, but law enforcement is actively pursuing multiple persons of interest.
“There’s a lot of interviews taking place, but apparently there was a confrontation between a couple of groups of people and then gunfire between those two started,” Wilkins stated in an interview with WBTW-TV. The chaotic scene led to more than 150 people fleeing before law enforcement arrived.
Investigators believe that multiple shooters fired shots using various weapons. The sheriff’s office had no prior knowledge of the gathering, as the crowd size was below the local threshold requiring a permit, which would have mandated security measures.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting or who attended the party to contact sheriff’s investigators immediately.
This devastating event marks a significant rise in violence at social gatherings, highlighting the urgent need for community safety measures. As investigations continue, the community of Maxton is left grappling with the aftermath of this senseless act.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
