'Gun violence hurts everyone:' Raleigh police chief gives update on Officer Ainsworth
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Raleigh Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown held a news conference Friday afternoon to give an update on Officer Charles Ainsworth, who was shot multiple times while investigating a suspicious vehicle Wednesday night.
"We are hopeful for a full recovery," Chief Deck-Brown said in regards to officer Ainsworth's current condition. She did not comment further on his recovery.
The chief repeatedly expressed support for the Ainsworth family.
"Gun violence hurts everyone, it hurts the community," Deck-Brown explained when talking about the events that led to the shooting.
"We are a family. As you can imagine that with any family struck by a senseless act of violence, we are heart-struck, we are disturbed and we too, are devastated," Deck-Brown said. "It's time like these that test us so we draw closer to each other. We gather strength from each other. We gather courage from each other and we speak word of encouragement for each other."
Two men and two women have been arrested as part of the investigation into the shooting.
Cedric Kearney, Antonio Fletcher, Sherry Richmond, and Amonie Fletcher are all behind bars while Ainsworth is under a doctor's care at WakeMed.
According to police, Ainsworth was shot while investigating a stolen vehicle call around 8:30 p.m. at an apartment complex off Western Boulevard.
Officials said Ainsworth and another officer arrived on scene and took 21-year-old Antonio Fletcher into custody.
While that was happening, 24-year-old Cedric Kearney started running away and shooting at the officers, hitting Ainsworth, police sources told ABC11.
More officers arrived on scene to help put Ainsworth in a car to take him to the hospital.
Kearney was found later hiding in a shed off Wendy Lane.
Kearney was charged with attempted murder, assault of law enforcement officer/police officer with a firearm, robbery with a dangerous weapon, breaking and or entering, and felony larceny.
In addition to the charges filed against Kearney, he has also been charged with assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm on Officer B.A. Halpin, who was with Ainsworth.
After shooting Ainsworth, Kearney fired at Halpin, who returned fire but did not strike anyone.
Fletcher was charged with possession of a stolen firearm, which was stolen prior to the shooting.
"This is the profession that we have all chosen. Why? Because we care about our community. Because we are dedicated to serving and protecting our community," Deck-Brown said. "We all are sworn -- our civilian and our volunteer staff -- will continue to show up each day with the resolve to remain resilient and to do our job to the best of our abilities even when we are hurting, and we are all hurting."
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