Man charged in Raleigh shooting that injured two people
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- A man is facing charges in connection with a shooting that injured one person at a Raleigh convenience store, and another person inside a nearby hotel Tuesday evening.
Police arrested 19-year-old William Thomas Holden in connection with the shooting that began around 5 p.m. in the 3700 block of New Bern Avenue.
Authorities said a 24-year-old was shot outside the EZWay Mart at the Exxon station, and then a bullet from the same shooting hit a 19-year-old who was inside a nearby Microtel Inn and Suites on Plainview Drive.
Frightened eyewitnesses counted off the rounds that blasted from the gun of the suspect during an argument in the gas station's parking lot.
"It was like 'boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,'" said Darius Brown.
Police said the incident started as a verbal altercation between two men at the gas station.
"[It was] an argument between two vehicles, and we don't have any more information as far as why they were engaged in the altercation and how it escalated so fast", said Lt. Charles Rosa.
Police said the shooter pulled out into New Bern Avenue, and then pulled out his gun; shooting the man he was arguing with and drove away - headed north on New Bern Avenue.
"It was loud. It was a lot of gunfire," said Brown.
Walter Denton was staying at that same hotel with his two-year-old son. He tells Eyewitness News he could hear the commotion outside his window and heard seven to eight gunshots.
"That could've been anybody," he said. "Anybody could have caught that bullet."
Even though the shooting happened near a busy intersection at rush hour, Denton said it could've been worse.
"If it was a Friday or Saturday night, it would've been packed out here," he said. "If they had been out here shooting like that they could've killed five- six people real easy just from how many people be standing out here."
The 24-year-old was able to flag down an ambulance on New Bern Avenue and was taken to WakeMed, according to police. He's expected to be OK.
Then news came about the second victim was a guest inside the Microtel Inn and said his air conditioner exploded. He then looked down to find he'd been shot in the leg - hit by a stray bullet.
The 19-year-old was able to drive himself to WakeMed Hospital. His injuries were described as non-life-threatening as well.
A trio of guests at the hotel, who are staying in Raleigh on a contract job, said they were happy to hear that the second victim would be OK. But, they admitted, they were anxious to find a new place to stay.
"After this incident today, I called my boss and we're making plans to pull out of here and go down to another hotel down Capital Boulevard," said John Kramer.
Meanwhile, Holden has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, conspiracy to commit assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, discharging a weapon into an occupied dwelling/moving vehicle and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill in connection with the shooting.
In court Wednesday, Holden initially told a Wake County judge he did not want a court-appointed attorney, saying he already hired a lawyer in the past for another pending case.
Court documents show Holden is on a 30-month probation for a June 2013 conviction in an armed robbery.
He is currently being held at the Wake County Detention Center under a $500,000 secured bond.
