On Sunday, November 15, 2020, at 12:16 am, officers with the Kinston Police Department responded to the 500 block of Laroque Avenue in reference to a subject who had been shot. Upon arrival, officers located Willie Sutton Jr., a 51-year-old male of Kinston suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper chest/arm area.

Officers rendered aid to Mr. Willie Sutton. He advised an altercation occurred at his residence which led to his wound. A short time after, officers were notified that a 22-year-old male of Kinston was at UNC Lenoir with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. This subject was flown to Vidant Hospital and is currently in stable condition. These two incidents appear to be related and that Mr. Sutton was targeted. Charges are pending in this case.

The Kinston Police Department places the highest priority on investigating crimes of violence perpetrated in our city. We will investigate such cases with no compromise for crime, and continue to seek assistance from the community we proudly serve. If anyone has any further information about this incident, please call the Kinston Police Department’s Tips Line at 252-939-4020 or Lenoir County Crime Stoppers at 252-523-4444.