2 dead, 11 injured after gunfire erupts at large party, North Carolina sheriff says

Two people died and 11 were injured “at a large party” on a dirt road in southeastern North Carolina early Saturday, sheriff’s investigators said.

Deputies found Lumberton residents Jessie Locklear Jr., 49, and Nehemiah Locklear, 16, dead after responding to calls of loud music and shots fired in the 200 block of Dixon Drive, just outside Maxton, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.

Maxton is about 105 miles southwest of Raleigh.

The shootings happened around 1:15 a.m., investigators said.

While deputies were on scene, “multiple additional victims arrived at Scotland Health Care in Laurinburg and UNC Health Southeastern Medical Center in Lumberton,” sheriff’s officials posted in an update on social media just before 5 p.m. Saturday.

A victim was later taken to an undisclosed treatment center with life-threatening injuries, according to the sheriff’s office. Several victims remained hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries, investigators said, while others were treated and released.

“Several people were shooting at each other ‘with no regard of the crowd that was there,’” Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said at a news conference on Dixon Drive, WCSC reported.

“This was yet another senseless act of gun violence that has taken the lives of two individuals and left many others seriously injured,” the sheriff said later in a statement on social media.

“What makes this even more disturbing is the involvement of teenagers, alcohol and guns at a large house party,” Wilkins said.

Dozens of videos from the party were posted on multiple platforms, the sheriff said, each showing that “alcohol and guns don’t mix, regardless of age. As seen here, the consequences are once again tragic.”

No arrests were reported by Saturday night.

“Those responsible for this reckless and heartless act must be held accountable,” Wilkins said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those affected by this tragic event.”

The sheriff’s office said the surviving victims were:

Nicole Harris, 18, of Raeford; Anthony Harris, 18, of Maxton; Jerami Locklear, 18, of Laurel Hill; and Trevor Jacobs, 18, and Tylon Locklear, 20, both of Pembroke.

Also, Kiona Oxendine, 22, of Lumberton; Erin Hatcher, 23, of Pembroke; Gabriel Bullard, 27, of Lumberton; Lacy Chavis, 29, of Shannon; Delilah Locklear, 43, of Lumberton; and an unnamed 17-year-old from Maxton.

More than 150 people ran from the site before law enforcement arrived, the sheriff’s office said Saturday morning.

“There is no current threat to the community, as this appears to have been an isolated incident,” officials said.

Gunfire erupted near the intersection of Dixon Drive and McGirt Gin Road, according to the sheriff’s office.

Maps show Dixon Drive is a dead-end dirt road with about a dozen homes.

Investigators urged anyone with information about the shootings to call the sheriff’s office at 910-671-3100 or email the sheriff at sheriff.wilkins@robesoncountysonc.gov.

This story was originally published October 25, 2025 at 8:23 AM with the headline "2 dead, 11 injured after gunfire erupts at large party, North Carolina sheriff says."