On November 27, 2023, at approximately 7:00 pm, members of the Kinston Police Department responded to a report of a shooting that had taken place near the 300 block of E. Bright St. Kinston, N.C. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the victim, Michael Williams Jr., inside a near by store, suffering from a single non-life-threatening gun shot wound. Investigators responded to the scene for a follow up investigation. 

In April 2024, information was obtained that the suspect in the case was Michael Lindsey, 26, of Kinston. Investigators began following up on leads and on April 2, 2024, a subsequent search warrant was issued for Lindsay’s residence. During the search, investigators located a firearm that matched the description of the one used at the time of the incident. Lindsay was placed in the Lenoir County Jail for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and was later released after posting a secured bond. 

Further testing was conducted and ballistics from the recovered firearm matched the evidence that was collected at the time of the shooting. On April 9, 2024, investigators with the Kinston Police Department obtained warrants for Lindsay’s arrest and he was apprehended without incident by the department’s Violent Criminal Action Team (VCAT). Lindsay has since been charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon with the Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Injury, Malicious Assault in Secret, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Discharging a Firearm in the City. Lindsay was placed back in the Lenoir County Jail under a secured bond 

The Kinston Police Department makes it a priority to investigate all crimes perpetrated in our city. We will investigate such cases without compromise for crime and continue to seek assistance from the community we proudly serve.  If anyone has information about this incident, please call the Kinston Police Department’s Tips Line at 252-939-4020, Lenoir County Crime Stoppers at 252-523-4444, or through the Tip411 App that is available on both Apple and Android devices.  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.