HICKORY, N.C. — A 17-year-old boy was shot in Hickory and airlifted to a hospital Tuesday afternoon, police said.
The shooting happened at about 2 p.m. in the 900 block of First Street Southwest, which was closed off by police for more than three hours.
More than two dozen shots were fired at the Camen Meadows apartment complex, police said.
Leah Abrams heard the gunfire and rushed downstairs where family members and friends had gotten on top of young children to shield them.
“My godsister landed on top of a little boy who was out here,” said Abrams, a mother. “She landed on top of him, and somebody was on top of my youngest daughter. It was just chaos … chaos.”
The 17-year-old boy was walking through the apartment complex at the time of the shooting and was struck in the lower back and possibly his leg.
Paramedics rushed the teenager into downtown Hickory and a medical helicopter airlifted him from a soccer field.
A nurse got on top of a four-year-old boy during the shooting and then went to help the teenager who was shot.
The nurse, who didn’t want to be identified, said she tore a beach towel to make a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.
“I hope I was able to save and be a major help in the condition of this kid,” she said. “I do not know the victim, but my prayers are with the family. I’m glad I was out here.”
The teen is in serious condition and is stable in the hospital.
On Wednesday, an investigation revealed that two groups of males were shooting at each other, including the 17-year-old male that was shot.
A second 17-year-old male has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, as well as breaking and entering. He was currently on probation for a weapons charge in connection to a shooting that occurred in Mecklenburg County at the time of this incident.
A third 17-year-old male has also been charged with breaking and entering.
Kaleef Hassan Carpenter, 25, has been arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a felon as a result of this shooting and was currently on probation for two previous convictions of the same charge that occurred in 2022.
Police said they are searching for 20-year-old Jonathon Jahiem White for a charge of discharging a firearm in the city limits in connection to this shooting.
This is a developing story, check back at wsoctv.com for updates.
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