City Officials respond to the quadruple shooting

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WAVY) – Elizabeth City Police say four teenagers have been taken to the hospital following a shooting Wednesday evening at the Walker Landing Apartments.

Police say the victims are 15, 16, 17 and 19-years-old. Sentara spokesperson Dale Gauding told 10 On Your Side that two of the victims were flown via Nightingale, one victim was flown via East Care Air Ambulance, and the last victim was taken to by a ground ambulance.

Gauding says all of the victims were all transferred to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital from Sentara Albemarle Medical Center.

In a press conference Thursday afternoon, Elizabeth City Police provided more details on what happened that night.

Police responded to reports of shots fired at the apartment complex at 7:03 p.m. They found the 17 and 19-yr-olds shot near building 1200 and took them to Sentara Albemarle Medical Center. The 15 and 16-yr-olds were found later and driven to the hospital by someone else.

Interim Police Chief Phillip Webster was at Albemarle Medical Center before the teens were transported.

“Y’all I gotta say that I was there last night at the er looking at those young gunshot victims was very heartbreaking It just there really is no other word for it, it’s heartbreaking,” Webster said.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, this is the third overall shooting incident this year with 6 total people injured.

Webster said the uptick in gun crimes is unsettling.

“Increasing use of firearms in nation is disturbing trend. It appears that the use of firearms in settling disputes between individuals is becoming evermore prevalent.”

Residents of Walkers Landing said they’re not surprised. One neighbor ran into the scene coming home. She wants to move because of all of the crime in the area.

“I was trying to come in from work and it was all taped off… we need to get out. I want to get out of here too,” she said.

Elizabeth City City Manager, Montré D. Freeman said the Police Athletic League, PAL, can help the community come together and heal.

“The PAL is one of the most impactful entities we have here in the city. This is what happens when we have idle hands. What we wanna do is remove idle hands and create positive hands. So we wanna put them in an environment that cultivates positive thoughts and positive acts,” Freeman said.

The PAL helps to improve bonds between the youth and law enforcement through sports and other activities. The program is held in the former Elizabeth City Middle School gymnasium, but will move to the National Guard Armory in six to nine months.

Police said at this time, there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the community.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with more information about the incident can call the Elizabeth City Police Department at 252-335-4321 or the Crime Line at 252-335-5555.

Check with WAVY.com for updates.