According to two press releases from the Kinston Police Department, on October 30, 2019 officers with the Kinston Police Department were on patrol when they heard shots fired near E Bright St. and S East St. Officers responded and began searching the area.

Shortly after, officers were dispatched to a call of a gunshot victim on the 1300 block of Pollock St. Upon arrival officers located a 19-year-old black male with a gunshot wound to the leg.

Further investigation found that the man had been shot on the 300 block of Richard Green Ct. and drove himself to Pollock St. He was transported to Vidant Medical Center for treatment. Officers located the scene of the shooting on the 300 block of Richard Green Ct. Additionally a vehicle and a residence were struck during the gunfire but no other injuries were reported. This case is still under investigation.

Also on October 30, 2019, officers with the Kinston Police Department were on patrol when they heard shots being fired. They responded quickly to a call of a subject shot on the 500 block of Harvey Street. Officers arrived to find a 37-year-old black male with gunshot wounds to his torso. He was transported to Vidant Medical Center.

Officers have arrested the suspect, Simon Johnson III of 408 E. Gordon Street, Kinston. He will be charged with Attempted Murder and confined to the Lenoir County Jail.

The Kinston Police Department places the highest priority on investigating crimes of violence perpetrated in the city. If anyone has any further information about these incidents, please call the Kinston Police Department’s Tips Line at 252-939-4020 or Lenoir County Crime Stoppers at 252-523-4444. Calls to Crime Stoppers are confidential and anonymous, and the caller may be eligible for a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest.