On Thursday, June 22nd, 2023, at approximately 1:30 members of the Kinston Police Department responded to the area of 400 Atlantic Ave. Kinston N.C. in reference to a subject that had been seen in the neighborhood armed with a handgun. Soon after officers were advised that the suspect had fired a single shot in the area and fled into a nearby residence. Members of the Kinston Police Department’s SWAT Team and Lenoir County Sheriffs Office Special Response Unit were called to the scene and the suspect was taken into custody without incident. The suspect was identified as Joseph Wooten, 31, of Kinston. Wooten was arrested and charged with Assault by Pointing a Gun, Illegal Discharge in the City Limits, and Going Armed to the Terror of the Public.

If anyone has information about this incident or any other 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.