3 dead in Cumberland County murder-suicide, teen injured
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- Authorities say three people are dead including a 14-year-old boy in an apparent murder-suicide. Another victim, a 15-year-old girl, is in critical condition.
The shooting happened in the 6700 block of Winthrop Drive, in the Eureka Springs community around 6:30 p.m.
Sheriff's investigators are still trying to piece together exactly what happened. A family member told ABC11 a mother driving a minivan and her 14-year-old son were shot and killed as they pulled into the driveway. A 15-year-old girl was also shot and critically wounded. Another teenager in the back seat was not hurt.
Video from the scene showed shattered windows on the van.
The gunman, a 21-year-old-man, then killed himself. His relationship with the victims has not been disclosed.
Mackenzie Cantwell was in the house when she heard her younger sister come in.
"I was sleeping in my mom's room, and my little sister came in and said, 'They all got shot,'" said Cantwell. "She looks at me saying, 'My whole family is dead. Everyone is dead but me. I have never seen anybody dead in my whole life and I just saw my little sister's 14-year-old brother dead.'"
Cantwell said the gunman and the victims had met at church.
At last report, sheriff's investigators had not identified the victims or the gunman.
The 15-year old girl was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center for surgery.
There's no word yet on a motive for the shootings.
It's been a violent few weeks in Cumberland County and Fayetteville. A gunman killed his father-in-law and the man's grandson after firing multiple shots into a Fayetteville home last week. The suspect died in a shootout but three deputies were wounded as well. On the same day, a Fort Bragg soldier was found shot to death in the parking lot of an apartment complex.
