An overnight shooting around 1 a.m. Friday left a home and a vehicle damaged along W. Illinois Avenue, near S. Gaines Street, in Southern Pines. During the incident, a small fire also broke out inside the home.
Southern Pines police say officers responded to reports of gunfire and found numerous spent shell casings in the roadway. Investigators determined a home in 900 block of W. Illinois Avenue was the apparent intended target. The residence and a vehicle parked outside were both struck multiple times by gunfire.
While speaking with the home’s sole occupant, who was not injured, officers noticed smoke building inside the residence. They discovered a small fire in an area of the home that had been struck by gunfire and used fire extinguishers from their patrol vehicles to contain the flames until Southern Pines Fire and Rescue arrived and fully extinguished the fire.
When Moore County News arrived at the scene Friday morning, multiple evidence markers could be seen in the roadway in front of the home. MCN also observed shattered glass from the home’s front door and damage to the residence.
Investigators with the Southern Pines Police Department processed the scene and recovered more than 50 pieces of physical evidence. Fire investigators are continuing to determine the cause and origin of the fire.
Police say they do not believe the shooting was a random act of violence and there is no known ongoing threat to the community.
The investigation remains active. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the Southern Pines Police Department at (910) 692-7031 or the department’s tip line at (910) 693-4110. Callers may remain anonymous.
