Video shows kids “hitting the dirt” after gunfire at Wilson Little League championships

WILSON, N.C. (WITN) - A decision hasn’t been yet on whether to cancel a Little League state championship tournament in Wilson after a shooting Sunday morning during one of the games. This as multiple teams have already dropped out.

It happened around 10:30 a.m. at the Gillette Athletic Complex on Corbett Avenue.

Pius Walcourt’s son was playing at the time and says,” One of the shots impacted in the outfield right by my son and there were several players that were right there also.”

Dominique Williams was also at the game watching his son play. He says he heard the gunshots and had to make a tough decision. “I had a pistol in my car and as I was running to my car I was thinking, ‘Do I go get my son or do I go and get my pistol?’ so I made the decision to fight back in case the shooter approached.”

Video obtained by WITN from a parent showed players, coaches and officials “hitting the dirt” after three shots were heard. The video shows one shot crossing the outfield and landing just feet from a player.

Wilson police found an unoccupied car in the parking lot near field number two hit by gunfire.

That minivan had its windows shot out.

Police on Monday said there was no evidence that anyone at the ballpark was intentionally targeted by the gunfire.

They also said two vehicles potentially involved were located and ruled out as those people were attending the game.

The baseball tournament was canceled for the rest of the day Sunday and city officials say a decision on whether the tournament will continue will be made later today.

A witness at the Little League field told WITN that seven and eight-year-old players were lying face down in the dugouts and on the field for protection.

Walcourt says those who were there continue to try to process the traumatic experience. “It’s just something that would never be expected to happen. It’s just very sad that someone would ever want to shoot anything near a youth event. These are kids. They have their whole lives ahead of them and for something like this to happen. It could traumatize them for the rest of their lives.”

The South Durham Little League posted a statement on social media saying in part,

The SDLL also said within their statement several other teams have decided to withdraw from the tournament too.

Police continue to search for the gunman and said they were using all their resources to determine the reasons behind the shooting.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Wilson Police Department 252-399-2323 or Crime Stoppers at 252-243-2255.

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