Anger over a bouncing ball led to a horrifying incident in Gaston County, North Carolina, on April 18. A man allegedly opened fire on a family, including a 6-year-old girl, injuring her and her parents. The incident occurred when a basketball rolled into the yard of a man identified as Robert Louis Singletary. He grew angry and started firing his weapon.
The father, William White, was critically injured while protecting his daughter, who needed stitches on her face from bullet fragments. The mother, Ashley Hilderbrand, was grazed by a bullet and is recovering at home with her daughter.
According to WSOC-TV, the shooting occurred after a group of kids were playing basketball and the ball bounced into Singletary’s yard. He reportedly became enraged and ran down the street as he fired at a neighbour. Then he returned and began shooting at the family, including the young daughter.
Singletary allegedly kept shooting until he was out of bullets. Neighbours told the station that he looked at the husband and daughter and told them he was going to kill them. The family and Singletary are not known to each other.
Furthermore, the police are still on the lookout for Singletary. He is charged with four counts of first-degree attempted murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury, and one count of possession of a firearm. The department is asking for the public’s help in locating and arresting the fugitive, offering a $1,000 reward.
This senseless act of violence has left the community in shock and mourning. Police Chief Stephen Zill has reassured the people of Gaston County that this kind of violence will not be tolerated. Additionally, the authorities are doing everything they can to bring Singletary to justice.
cc: New York Post
