Police Chief Jerry Stokes outraged at recent violent shootings

Published 3:19 pm Wednesday, August 31, 2016

By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Salisbury Police Chief Jerry Stokes said he’s outraged at the recent violent shootings that have occurred, all within a 15-hour period of each other, and said the public should be angry, too.

Police responded to a shooting reported at 3:25 a.m. Tuesday at 322 W. C Ave., where the victim, William Scott Kerr Jr., was shot in both legs. Then at 3:38 a.m., police responded to 211 E. Bank St., where they found Amarillo Deshaun Bryant with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Police were called to a shooting at 6:33 p.m. at 409 E. Fisher St., where 16-year-old Timothy Little Jr. was shot in the upper rear thigh by bullet during a fight between a number of other juveniles. Nearly an hour later, at 7:28 p.m., police went to 1714 N. Long St., where they say Eddie Floyd Bennett was grazed by a bullet.

Bennett told police another vehicle pulled alongside him and fired several shots into his car as he was driving.

“I am personally, as the police chief, outraged and the police department is also outraged at these series of violent crimes that have occurred in the city in just a short period. The community, I’m sure as well, should be angry about the violence that is going on now over the summer,” Stokes said during a Wednesday press conference.

Stokes said the East Fisher Street incident is not related to the others. He also confirmed the crimes are not gang-related.

See more in Thursday’s Post.