By WECT Staff | May 13, 2021 at 7:50 PM EDT – Updated May 14 at 6:53 PM
WHITEVILLE, N.C. (WECT) – The Whiteville Police Department has arrested a man after he allegedly shot two people at an apartment complex in the city Thursday evening.
According to a news release, police were alerted to reports of multiple gunshots at the Sandy Ridge Apartments around 6:30 p.m.
When officers arrived, they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the head and a woman who was shot in the arm and abdomen. Both were taken to Columbus Regional Healthcare and their current conditions are not known.
Deputies with the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office arrived and helped Whiteville police apprehend the suspect — Dashad Maultsby, 29, of Lumberton.
He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, shooting into an occupied dwelling, possession with intent to sell/deliver cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Additional charges are pending, according to the release. Maultsby’s bond was increased to $2 million Friday afternoon during his first appearance.
Thursday night’s shooting occurred while families were gathered at nearby Nolan Park as children were getting ready to play baseball.
As gunfire erupted, one witness described it as “an out of body experience” and said she had never experienced anything like that before.
Father of four Chase Rhodes was coaching baseball at the ballpark with his own young children when shots rang out. People scattered as the bullets were fired and families sought safety by hiding in dugouts and behind trees and cars.
“It was at least two minutes, and for someone to watch a clock go by… two minutes, you know, that’s a long time. You could hear the shells… the magazines being replaced, reloaded, you know, it’s nothing that I ever want to put any child through, not just my own, but any child,” explained Rhodes.
Sandy Ridge Apartments has a long history of gun violence, and something Rhodes himself has witnessed two other times at the ball fields behind the housing complex. He hopes changes are on the way, both to protect families that visit the park, but also the residents and children that live at Sandy Ridge Apartments.
An exchange he had with his own daughter about the shooting Thursday night still sticks in his mind.
“She said that I said in the middle of it all, ‘run so that you don’t get hit by a bullet,’” explained Rhodes. “I don’t personally remember saying that, but I don’t think she would lie one bit. If you want to hear the truth, ask a child. So that memory is going to be stuck in her head and that’s just my personal experience with my child, and there were a few other youngins out there that’s going to have that similar situation in theirs and it’s not, it’s not fair.”
Justin Smith, a member of the Whiteville City Council, took to Facebook Friday morning to address the shooting, saying he is “sad and frustrated about the violence” and that his daughter was supposed to have practice at the fields last night, but it was canceled.
“In our recent budget meetings, City Council has discussed plans to further invest in those parks and rec facilities, namely through a new restroom/concession facility at the new fields. But before we spend more money there, we have to ensure that the area is safe,” Smith said. “I assure you that I will explore all possibilities available to the city. This could involve legal avenues, and I don’t want to say anything here that would compromise our ability to pursue those options. But I do want you to know that this is weighing heavily on me, as I know it is many of you. I agree that enough is enough.”
The city announced that it is partnering with the Child Advocacy Center to provide counseling services Friday at the Child Advocacy Center until 7 p.m. for anyone who was at Nolan Park or the recreation center complex during the shooting. If you’re interested, call 910-356-0321.
The shooting is still under investigation and if you have any information, contact Det. Strickland at 910-642-5111.
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