Teen crash victim shot, killed bystander trying to help at Lowell intersection, police say

LOWELL, N.C. — Police released the identity of a victim who died in a shooting at a busy intersection in Lowell Thursday night.

Officers swarmed the area of Wilkinson Boulevard and Redbud Drive after police said there was a multi-vehicle crash and shooting.

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Police were called for a crash with injuries just after 7 p.m. When officers got to the scene, they found a person who was shot. Authorities confirmed Jose Antonia Jimenez Quinones, 52, of Gastonia, died from the shooting at the scene.

Police said Quinones was trying to help after the wreck.

Quinones opened the door to check on a teenage crash victim when police say that the teen shot him, police said.

“He stopped to help,” said Jose Ramos, who considers Quinones his stepfather. “He didn’t have to. He could have went straight home.”

“He didn’t deserve that”
We are learning more about a Gastonia man killed by a crash victim he tried to help. Jose Quinones was a painter who saw the crash in Lowell & stopped to help. He opened a car door & police say a juvenile shot him. The teen is charged wt 2nd degree murder pic.twitter.com/NuC5PUyTTu
— Ken (@kenlemonWSOC9) August 10, 2022

Other victims were taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries from the wreck.

“The people that are here were unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Captain Billy Downey with the Gaston County Police Department. “They’re witnesses, they’re not involved in any way. We just can’t let them leave until we get all our photographs and measurements, photographs and everything.”

Scene of a crash and homicide investigation in Lowell.

During the investigation, Gastonia police found a juvenile suspect running away from the area. Officers were eventually able to take them into custody and charge them with second-degree murder.

Ramos said he is left with deep emotional scars.

“Sad and depressed because you are just recalling every memory you had of that certain person,” Ramos said.

Ramos said he can’t understand why it happened.

“He was a great guy. He didn’t deserve that.” Ramos said.

“Due to the circumstances surrounding this ongoing investigation, no other information can be released at this point,” Gaston County Police stated in a news release.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Lowell Police Department at 704-824-8540 or the Gaston County Police Department at 704-866-3320.

Return to this story for updates.