Henderson, North Carolina

From the Daily Dispatch of April 27, 2006

Accident leads to gunfire

A citizen's attempt to check out a car-accident scene resulted in gunfire Wednesday afternoon.

Henderson police responded to a traffic accident call at the corner of Water and North Pinkston streets at approximately 3 p.m. Minutes later, the department received reports that a shooting had occurred there.

When officers arrived, they located an individual who reported he had shot another man, Antwan Crudup, 21, of 1843 lot 17 Vicksboro Road, in self-defense. The alleged shooter, whom Henderson Police Chief Glen B. Allen declined to identify since he might not face charges, reportedly claimed that Crudup aggressively approached him and tried to strike him after the accident (Allen said the alleged shooter says he left his vehicle to see what was going on in the collision); Allen said investigations indicate that possibly more than one person approached the alleged shooter at the time.

The alleged shooter voluntarily surrendered a .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol to police and Allen said the man has been cooperative throughout investigations.

Crudup reportedly sustained injuries, none life threatening, after being shot one time and was transported to Maria Parham Medical Center.

The alleged shooter was reportedly not involved in the car accident that spawned the resulting gunfire. Allen said Crudup was the passenger in a 1995 Mazda driven by Marcus Brown of Ponderbranch Trailer Park. Brown's vehicle reportedly collided with a 1978 Chevy Camaro driven by Donald Ragland of North Pinkston Street. Allen said Brown faces charges of driving while impaired and exceeding safe speeds; Brown's vehicle sustained $1,500 damage while Ragland's vehicle sustained $3,500 damage.

Allen said that investigations by the Henderson Police Department are continuing and more information may be available later. No one was injured as a result of the car collision, according to Allen.