The State Bureau of Investigation has assigned five agents to assist Maxton police in solving the crime that claimed the life of 15-year-old Rochaad Ingram of Alpha Street. He died at Carolina Medical Center in Charlotte on Sunday.
"Somebody's 15-year-old child was killed in my town and I take it very personally," Maxton Police Chief Damon Williams said Wednesday, a day after he personally discussed the incident with Ingram's family.
He said the department will take a "tougher stance" on youth safety following the shooting.
"We're not going to tolerate anyone's child getting shot in Maxton," he said.
Williams said no arrests have been made but he is confident the killer will soon be behind bars.
“I’m confident in our detectives and the other agents, and I’m positive they’ll make an arrest in this shooting,” Williams said.
Eight law officers from Maxton and the SBI continue canvassing the area and talking to witnesses, he said.
“We’ve done a lot of investigative work and they’re progressing and eliminating people as possible suspects,” the chief said.
At 12:36 a.m. Sunday, Maxton police were sent to the Hooper Street area after receiving a report of shots being fired. Officers found the victims outside in a residential area.
Officers attempted to resuscitate Ingram before he was rushed to Scotland Memorial Hospital. He was later airlifted to Charlotte.
Williams said all four victims are juveniles; he has not released the names of the injured to the public.
A statement prepared Sunday said a second gunshot victim was also treated at Scotland Memorial Hospital, and two others suffered minor injuries. All three have been released from the hospital.
Williams continues to be tight-lipped about the shooting, saying he does not want to jeopardize the investigation. He expects to have more information for the public on Friday.
Williams said he has assigned additional officers to patrol the city “during this troublesome time.”
Anyone with information on this crime can call the Maxton Police Department at 844-5667 or the Maxton, Red Springs, and Rowland Crime Stoppers hotline at 785-4475.
The Robesonian contributed to this report.
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