Mother of two shot, killed at Cleveland County house party, police say

CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. — Deputies are desperate to find the person who shot and killed a Cleveland County mother this weekend.

The shooting happened during a party on Fox Kill Drive in Kingstown Sunday morning.

Loved ones told Channel 9 reporter Ken Lemon they need witnesses to come forward.

The owner of the home said he only invited a few friends over for a party, but many more showed up, until the street was lined with cars and the yard was full of people.

Then a shot rang out.

Betty Washington is heartbroken over her granddaughter's death.

She said Deasia Washington's sons, ages 4 and 5, are struggling to understand it.

"It’s been hard for the boys and everybody,” Washington said.

Deasia went to the party on Fox Kill Drive in Kingstown on Saturday night. Someone fired a shot in the backyard. It went through the wall and hit her.

She had not been the target, police said.

After the shooting, the crowd scattered. Sheriff's investigators said they need people to come forward and tell what they saw.

It's an agonizing problem for Washington's family.

"We want to know what happened. We don't know why. Why was he shooting in a house full of people?" Washington said. “Come forward and tell what you know, but nobody never do."

"Don't go by the code of the streets,” Tavarus Brooks said.

Brooks lives next door to the house where the shooting happened.

He said the code of silence has to stop.

"Just come forward. It ain't about you being no snitch. It's about you being real. I mean, she's got two kids that are out here without a mother, Brooks said.

Sheriff's investigators said they need someone to come forward quickly. The sooner they get a lead, the more quickly they can confirm the information and bring closure for the family.

Anyone who has information about the shooter is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-481-TIPS.

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