An “ongoing dispute” between an estranged couple and several others erupted in gunfire at a Clinton apartment complex on Sunday night, resulting in three people being shot and a teenager dying from his injuries and his mother being airlifted for hers.
The incident is still under investigation, with Clinton Police Department officials urging any additional information the public might have. No arrests have been made in the incident, in which Carlos Rivera, 19, of Ruby Lane, received fatal wounds and was subsequently pronounced dead at Sampson Regional Medical Center.
Around 6:27 p.m. Sunday, officers with the Clinton Police Department responded to call of shots fired at Dogwood Circle. While en route, officers observed a vehicle “leaving the area at a high rate of speed and driving reckless,” according to a statement released by Clinton Police Chief Donald Edwards.
Officers attempted to stop the vehicle and were able to follow it as it traveled to Sampson Regional Medical Center. Other officers continued to Dogwood Circle, where they learned at least three individuals had been driven to the hospital with gunshot wounds.
Sampson County Sheriff’s deputies assisted with securing both the hospital and the crime scene at Dogwood Circle, while investigators with the Clinton Police Department and the State Bureau of Investigation were called to the scene.
“While the investigation is still ongoing, details gathered so far indicate the individuals involved in the shooting have had an ongoing dispute,” Edwards stated.
The altercation began when Kiara Torres, 25, of Wedgewood Lane, Clinton, and Carlos Rivera, 19, and his mother Malian Rivera, 41, both of Ruby Lane, Clinton, “got into a verbal altercation that became physical,” reports state.
Carlos Rivera and Torres had reportedly been in a relationship, police said. During the Sunday dispute, Anny Alvarado, 29, a resident of Dogwood Circle and a friend of Torres, attempted to help her when she was allegedly assaulted by Carlos Rivera.
Alvarado’s boyfriend, Miguel Alamo, 34, of Hobbton Highway, attempted to stop the teenager from assaulting his girlfriend. According to reports, at that time, Carlos Rivera pulled a handgun and fired at Alamo, striking him in the arm with one shot. Alamo then pulled a handgun and fired back at Carlos Rivera. Hearing the shots, Alvarado, who had been knocked to the ground during the altercation, got to her feet, pulled her own handgun and fired at Carlos Rivera too.
Malian Rivera continued to approach Alvarado and was shot in the chest, initial reports indicate.
Carlos Rivera, Malian Rivera and Miguel Alamo all went to Sampson Regional Medical Center separately with gunshot wounds. Medical staff pronounced Carlos Rivera dead at the hospital Sunday night, while Malian Rivera was airlifted from Sampson Regional to an undisclosed area hospital, where she was listed in critical condition on Monday.
Alamo was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Over the past two years, Eastern Carolina Regional Housing Authority has allowed the Clinton Police Department to use a vacant apartment at Dogwood Circle as a substation. There, the department has hosted several community events, including an annual Santa at the Substation visit. The complex is also just down Barden Street from the Sampson Center, where children regularly take part in athletic activities and other community programs.
While the deadly incident is under investigation, Edwards said the weapons used have been seized.
“All the handguns used in this disturbance have been recovered,” the police chief stated.
Amber Cava, Sampson Regional’s spokesperson, and vice president of Strategy and Business Development for the hospital, said reports of the hospital being locked down were erroneous.
“It has been misreported so far that the hospital was on lockdown,” Cava said Monday. “The hospital’s ER was on restricted access for several hours. This is normal protocol in cooperation with local law enforcement during incidents similar to the one last night.”
A lockdown involves locking all entrances into the hospital, while restricted access tightens access by area and heightens security.
“Restricted access in the ER allows us to cooperate with law enforcement while caring for patients who may be related to an active incident or investigation, but without hindering access to those seeking emergency medical attention,” Cava explained. “During a restricted access period, visitor access either into the facility or in specific areas — in this case the emergency room — is restricted.”
Detectives are still investigating the shooting and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Clinton Police Department at 910-592-3105. Anonymous tips through can also be sent through the department’s tipline at 910-590-3009, by texting to 847411, starting each tip with “tipcpd,” or through the tipcpd app.