Activist concerned about youth violence after teen dies in Mount Holly shooting

MOUNT HOLLY, N.C. — A teenager has died following a shooting Thursday night, according to the Mount Holly Police Department.

Just before 11:45 p.m., police found him with gunshot wounds lying in the driveway of his parents’ home on Gander Way. He died from his injuries shortly afterward, according to police.

His identity has not been released.

His family is obviously in morning, but so are neighbors who knew him. The teen’s family called 911 Thursday night.

“Two guys pull up and they shot him,” the caller said.

Witnesses said the suspects in this case drove a silver car and one wore a mask. They said one grabbed the teen while the other fired the fatal shot.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss our community has experienced once again and offer our condolences to the families,” Mount Holly Police Chief Brian Reagan said in a statement. “Our department is actively investigating this incident, and we are working tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice. We are asking for anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the Mount Holly Police Department.”

Lemon spoke with a former Cleveland County NAACP president about the increase in violent encounters involving minors. He said he has been working to prevent teen violence and feels it’s time for it to stop.

“There’s a value in life. We can’t reset it; we can’t start it over. As a community, how do we engage to really make a difference?” said Rev. Melvin Clark.

Officers went door to door Friday to see if anyone on the cul-de-sac had cameras that might reveal who shot and killed the teen yards from his front door.

Youth violence in Gaston County

Youth violence is an issue that plagues our community. Over the course of just one month, three shootings in Gaston County have killed four people under the age of 20.

Thursday’s shooting was the second deadly shooting in the county in just two days, leaving yet another family grieving. On Wednesday night, a 16-year-old passenger was killed in a car on Cox Road in Gastonia.

Earlier this week, a 17-year-old was indicted as an adult for the December killings of two 19-year-olds who were found in a car in Mount Holly. An 18-year-old was also indicted and could face the death penalty.

It all has Rev. Clark at a loss.

“Why do kids have guns?” he asked.

He said the problem is getting out of hand, with the number of teen shooters and teen victims continuing to grow.

“It’s an atrocity because life on both sides is now destroyed,” Clark said.

Finding and arresting the shooter in this latest case could bring closure and justice, but Clark worries that arrests alone won’t stop this problem.

“There is no one magic answer,” he said. “If we are going to change the trajectory of where they are going, there must be a plan.”

Clark thinks that plan should be long term and should involve the entire community.

Anyone with information about Thursday’s shooting is asked to contact the Mount Holly Police Department at 704-827-4343.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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