Fayetteville shooting at park Wednesday came at the end of a memorial for slain man
Gunfire erupted Wednesday night at the end of a memorial for a slain Fayetteville man, leaving one person shot and his vehicle submerged in a public swimming pool, the Fayetteville Police Department announced Thursday afternoon.
According to police, the shooting began about 8 p.m. at Seabrook Park at Langdon Road and Slater Avenue as family and friends were leaving a balloon release memorial for Lorenzo McLaughlin Jr., 22. McLaughlin was shot and killed July 29 on Stanberry Street.
Police say the park shooting is not a random incident.
"We are experiencing a cycle of violence that our community has the power to stop,” Chief K. Braden said in a news release. “It will take the cooperation of our community to help solve this crime and prevent further acts of violence.”
According to police, video obtained from Smith Recreation Center shows multiple armed men on the property.
The video also captured images of the Kia Optima, later found in the pool, leaving the parking lot at a high rate of speed, before speeding back down Langdon Street, swerving and crashing through a fence and into the pool.
The driver, who was shot, is seen exiting the vehicle and climbing out of the pool, the release said. He staggers before laying on Slater Avenue, where he was located by officers. police said.
Two other vehicles believed to belong to the shooting suspects were located at the Lake in the Pines apartment off Rosehill Road, some four miles away, that evening, the release said.
The shooting victim, whose name was not released, was treated at the scene — first by officers, then by emergency medical services — before being taken to the hospital and then flown to the UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, police said. He was listed in stable condition Thursday afternoon.
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“Based on the initial investigation, there were multiple witnesses on scene who may be able to provide information about this incident. The Fayetteville Police Department is urging anyone with information to come forward to prevent further violence,” the release said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective D. O’Hara at 910-303-4220. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crimestoppers by calling 910-483-8477; online by visiting http://fay-nccrimestoppers.org; or by downloading the free “P3 Tips” app for mobile devices.
F.T. Norton can be reached at fnorton@fayobserver.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Man shot, car found in pool in shootout at Seabrook Park in Fayetteville
