'Senseless violence' erupts at Christmas tree lighting; 4 injured

A night of holiday celebration at an annual tree-lighting ceremony in North Carolina turned into chaos when gunfire broke out, injuring four on Nov. 21.

Authorities said the shooting was not a random act of violence and the gunfire was exchanged between two suspects who knew each other and were both critically injured.

The shooting happened at the Christmas tree lighting in Concord, North Carolina, a city of about 115,000 residents in the Charlotte metropolitan area, at about 7:30 p.m. local time, the city and local police said.

Four people were struck by gunfire; three were in critical condition and one was in stable condition the night of Nov. 21, according to the city. Two of the injured victims were 17-year-olds, officials said.

“A night of celebration for our community was interrupted by senseless violence, affecting everyone who was there,” said Concord Police Chief Jimmy Hughes. “Our community showed great strength and resilience as everyone came together to help one another and our officers."

One of those injured and in critical condition, identified as 18-year-old Nasir Ahmad Bostic, was a suspected shooter, the city said. Warrants for Bostic's arrest were issued for assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill and inciting a riot.

Another suspected shooter, an unnamed minor, is also in critical condition. The Concord Police Department is pursuing petitions through juvenile court for assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, two counts of discharging into an occupied property inflicting serious injury and inciting a riot, officials said.

A third suspect who was not injured is a 17-year-old being charged as an adult with accessory after the fact and inciting a riot.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shooting at North Carolina tree lighting ceremony injures 4