Cousins killed after shooter opens fire on car outside Hickory convenience store

HICKORY, N.C. — Police are investigating after a 16-year-old and his 20-year-old cousin were shot to death in a car outside a convenience store in Catawba County late Sunday night.

The shooting happened just after 10:30 p.m. at the Save More Convenience Store on 1st Avenue SW in Hickory.

Officers responded to the store after getting a 911 call from a bystander, who said two men had been shot.

The 911 caller told police the suspect walked up and fired several shots into the car the men were sitting in before running off into the woods. The caller said the suspect was wearing a gray hooded jacket and black pants.

Eyewitnesses described to Channel 9 hearing four to five shots and one of the doors of the car was open at the time of the shooting. Our crews could clearly see where a round tore through the rear door of the car, and we heard from neighbors who said they are frightened to go outside.

“I have three children of my own and this has just got to stop," said Ashely Curtis. "This is ridiculous living in fear. I don’t want to let my kids outside today.”

When Hickory police got to the store, they found 20-year-old Xzavion Watts and 16-year-old Damarion Sharpe in the back of the car with gunshot wounds.

Sharpe died at the scene. Catawba County EMS took Watts to the hospital, but he later died from his injuries.

Authorities have not said what led to the shooting, but did say it appears the suspect was familiar with the victims and targeted them.

No arrests have been made.

Channel 9′s Dave Faherty spoke with neighbors in the area, who said they are in disbelief over what happened.

We learned that Sharpe attended Hickory Career and Arts Magnet School, or H-CAM, where he was a sophomore.

This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for more information.

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