Woman shot near Wendell, rushed to hospital
WENDELL (WTVD) -- Paramedics rushed a 21-year old mother to WakeMed on Friday evening, after she was shot multiple times while cradling her 5-month old baby in her arms.
The gunfire came just before 6 p.m. during a family gathering at a home on Alfreda Court in Wendell.
"They were here for some type of get-together. Some type of argument broke out," Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison said. "The gentleman was asked to leave and at some point in time he came back and shots were fired."
Lois Hodge owns the home. She told us her family had gathered inside, about eight people in all. Hodge said a cousin, 36-year old Kevin Watkins, became angry during an argument among family members.
"I heard him arguing with the children on the porch," Hodge said. "I got up, came and I went to push him outside. I said 'get out my house.' He pushed back and next thing I know he was outside and he said 'I'll be back' and that was it."
They said Watkins did return. And he brought a gun.
Witnesses said Watkins stood outside and fired multiple rounds into the home where his family was gathered.
"I was still in my room and I heard gunshots," Hodge said. "(I heard) at least four or five shots."
Destiny Davis was caught in the crossfire. She was holding her 5-month old son in her arms.
"She was holding a child when she got shot. Was she an intended victim? I don't think so," Sheriff Harrison said.
"(Watkins) was aiming for Marvin," said Terrence Cooley, who was inside the home when it happened.
Marvin is Davis' boyfriend and the father of the baby she was holding.
"Marvin was holding her on the floor saying, 'y'all she been hit! she been hit!' " Cooley said.
Davis was shot multiple times. But, while she was rushed to WakeMed, her child was miraculously unharmed despite being so close to the gunfire.
The suspect, Kevin Watkins, took off from the scene. Wake sheriff's deputies took him into custody an hour later at his home on Old Crews Road in Zebulon.
Back in Wendell, family members were still trying to process what all went wrong.
"(Watkins) had no business here messing with kids, and he probably had been drinking, I don't know," Hodge said.
Investigators spent Friday night questioning Watkins. Charges are still pending.
The sheriff's office did not provide an immediate update on Davis' condition at WakeMed.
