A deadly shooting in Hickory, North Carolina, left one man dead and two others injured late Friday night, prompting a major response from local law enforcement. Officers were dispatched just before 9 p.m. to the area of 2nd Street Court SW, where multiple gunshots had been reported by residents living in the apartment complex. When police arrived, they found a chaotic scene with evidence of gunfire in the parking lot and several individuals down.
At the scene, officers located 36‑year‑old Donnie Morgan, who had suffered a fatal gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead shortly after police arrived. Neighbors later told investigators that Morgan had lived in the complex for several years and was well‑liked in the community. The shooting drew nearly two dozen officers from both the Hickory Police Department and the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office as they worked to secure the area and assess the number of victims.
Two additional victims, identified as 54‑year‑old Michael Wilfong and 39‑year‑old Deangelo Morgan, were found suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were transported to a local hospital for treatment. Their conditions have not been publicly released, and investigators have not yet provided details on whether the victims were targeted or caught in the crossfire.
Detectives quickly identified 28‑year‑old Melvin Ramseur as the suspect in the shooting. According to police, Ramseur fled the immediate area but was located and taken into custody shortly afterward. Evidence gathered at the scene, along with witness accounts, led investigators to formally charge him with murder and two counts of attempted murder. He was transported to the Catawba County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond.
The apartment complex where the shooting occurred remained an active crime scene for several hours as officers collected shell casings, documented the layout of the parking lot, and interviewed residents who had heard the gunfire. Some neighbors reported hearing multiple rounds in rapid succession, followed by people running and shouting. Police have not yet released information regarding a possible motive, and the investigation remains ongoing.
As detectives continue to piece together the events leading up to the shooting, the Hickory community is left grappling with the sudden loss of Donnie Morgan and the injuries sustained by the other victims. Authorities are urging anyone with additional information to contact investigators as they work to determine what led to the violence on 2nd Street Court SW.