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A shootout Sunday afternoon left an east Charlotte neighborhood riddled with bullets, but police said no injuries were reported.
The gun battle erupted about 1:30 p.m. near the Timber Ridge apartments, a complex at Barrington Drive and Milton Road.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said the incident started when an unidentified man was assaulted in the 7200 block of Barrington Drive. The man left, but soon returned with several friends.
They confronted his alleged assailants, and shots were fired between the two groups. Police said several cars and at least two apartments were struck by bullets.
Police said they are questioning several suspects, but no charges have been filed. -- Ely Portillo
Regional briefs
Fayetteville
Police are still investigating their handling of a 911 call from the home of an N.C. man who shot his wife and two children before he turned the gun on himself.
The Fayetteville Observer reported that while an operator followed protocol in taking the call from the home of Billy Maxwell Jr. earlier this month, investigators want to know why it took more than an hour to dispatch an officer.
Though police haven't said whether their call center played a role, they acknowledge it needs an upgrade.
Fayetteville's emergency operations center saw its last major upgrade in 1999. Officials learned then that the system didn't work properly.
In mid-February, the city will debut a new, $3.2 million computer-assisted dispatch system. -- Associated Press
Wilmington
A wide range in pay for local managers of N.C.'s Alcohol Beverage Control boards - and the reluctance of boards to make that information public - has drawn the attention of the governor.
The Star-News of Wilmington reported Sunday that its inquiry into salaries at ABC boards in New Hanover County and elsewhere prompted the chairman of the state ABC commission to alert Gov. Beverly Perdue's office, which ordered a closer look.
The newspaper reported that Billy Williams, the administrator of the New Hanover ABC board and who has worked there for nearly 42 years, makes $232,200 a year. His son, Bradley Williams, the assistant administrator, earns $115,500 annually. State commission Chairman Jon Williams makes $109,553 a year. State Administrator Michael Herring earns $97,279. -- Associated Press
South Carolina
Columbia
South Carolina is reporting fewer swine flu cases, but more deaths from the disease. The Department of Health and Environmental Controls told The (Columbia) State newspaper that 56 cases of swine flu were reported in the state's hospitals the week ending Nov. 14, down from 78 the week before.
But DHEC says swine flu contributed to six S.C. deaths the week of Nov. 14, matching the deadliest week since the flu arrived in S.C. seven months ago. -- Associated Press
