One airlifted to hospital following alleged vehicle shooting, crash with infant inside at Newton gas station

NEWTON, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — One person was airlifted to a Charlotte hospital following a potential kidnapping attempt and shooting in a car that was carrying an infant in Newton Monday afternoon.

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Officers and firefighters surrounded the Love’s Travel Stop following the incident at the intersection of N.C. 10 and Southfork Drive.

According to the Newton Police Department, when officers arrived on scene, around 1:25 p.m. they located a vehicle that had struck a utility pole. Inside was a man who had sustained several gunshot wounds and an infant who appeared uninjured.

The man was removed from the vehicle, transported to Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory with life-threatening injuries and eventually airlifted to Atrium
Health CMC.

The infant and another involved female were transported to Catawba Valley Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

Yellow caution tape could be seen blocking off the property, while a red passenger vehicle with significant front-end damage appeared to be involved in some sort of accident.

Investigators believe the male victim came to the area to meet with another
individual. Upon arriving at the convenience store, an armed gunman allegedly entered the backseat of the victim’s vehicle and pointed a gun at the victim.

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A second gunman attempted to pull a passenger from the vehicle. The victim began driving away, and the passenger was ejected from the vehicle.

The property surrounding the gas station was closed as investigators worked the scene.

“The entire property has been closed off by authorities as detectives continue to take photos of a burgundy sedan that had crashed into a tree and a telephone pole. At least one person has been taken away by ambulance,” photojournalist Brian Christiansen reported.

The names of the involved individuals have not been made public. Queen City News is working to learn whether any arrests have been made.

The investigation of this incident is ongoing and active. Anyone who witnessed the incident and may be able to provide any additional information is asked to contact Investigator C. Davis with the Newton Police Department at 828-465-7430 or [email protected].