Gunshots rang out Friday night during the Christmas tree lighting in downtown Concord, sending four people to the hospital.
According to the Concord Police Department, the shooting happened around 7:30 p.m. Four people were taken to the hospital—two were identified as suspects in the shooting and the two others who were uninvolved are both 17-years-old. As of Saturday morning, one of the uninvolved victims has been released and the second remains in critical condition.
In a release sent around 3 a.m. on Saturday, Concord police said the shooting was not a random act of violence directed at the public. Their initial investigation revealed that the shooting was between two people who knew each other.
Police identified 18-year-old Nasir Ahmad Bostic as one of the shooters. He is one of the four people sent to the hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Bostic was charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury/intent to kill and with inciting a riot. Police plan to serve him his arrest warrant if and when he’s released from the hospital.
The Concord Police Department also filed petitions through the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice for the second suspected shooting who is a juvenile. They are also in the hospital in critical condition. Authorities did not mention their age.
They plan to charge the juvenile with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury/intent to kill, two counts of discharging into an occupied property inflicting serious injury and inciting a riot.
Police also identified and charged 17-year-old Keyvyonn Rayshaund Bostic as an adult with accessory after the fact. He was not injured and police arrested him shortly after the shooting.
The City of Concord confirmed on Facebook that they will continue their Christmas Parade Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and their Santa Scramble 5K will go on.
“We are a resilient community and will not let the senseless actions of a few individuals steal another tradition from us,” the post wrote. “Some families may choose to stay home and we understand and respect their decision. We also know that many find comfort, harmony and healing in community and our parade has provided that for our city for nearly a century.”
“I thought fireworks went off”
“A night of celebration for our community was interrupted by senseless violence, affecting everyone who was there,” said Concord Police Chief Jimmy Hughes.
“Our community showed great strength and resilience as everyone came together to help one another and our officers. Due to the quick actions of our downtown businesses, the public, first responders, and law enforcement, we were able to quickly evacuate the area, prevent additional injuries, and identify all suspects involved.”
A WCNC Charlotte photojournalist was filming the event when he reported shots were fired around 7:30 p.m. The incident caused a disruption to the event, with officers setting up crime scene tape shortly after.
Cellphone video showed officers ushering multiple people away from the scene after the shooting. Police officers said emergency personnel were already at the scene for the tree lighting.
“I thought the fireworks went off. My daughter thought the fireworks went off, and here it was seven, eight rounds of gunshots,” said Marquis Jenkins, a Concord resident.
City leaders said the rest of the event was canceled after the shooting. Police said they are investigating footage from the event and speaking with several witnesses and asked anyone with information to call them at 704-920-5027.
WCNC contributed to this report.
