Overnight shooting spree in NC tourist destination kills 2, injures 7, police say
A barrage of gunfire in the middle of the night killed two people and injured seven in an Asheville commercial strip, according to police in western North Carolina.
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It happened around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, and investigators suspect “the shooting may have been related to a prior gun violence incident.”
Asheville is a popular tourist destination along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and is home to the 8,000-acre Biltmore Estate.
“Patrol officers responded to the 250 block of Biltmore Avenue at around 2:20 a.m. … to investigate reports of shots being fired,” Asheville police said in a news release.
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“Officers located multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts … two individuals were pronounced dead at the scene. Seven additional victims sustained injuries and were transported to Mission Hospital for treatment. The extent of their injuries is not being released at this time.”
The crime scene covered a large area and police collected “numerous shell casings,” officials said.
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Asheville is about a 130-mile drive northwest from uptown Charlotte.
