HAMLET — Two people were hospitalized after being shot in the middle of downtown early Tuesday morning.
According to a press release from Chief Dennis Brown, officers with the Hamlet Police Department responded to a call of a shooting in the 30 block of Main Street, near Hail Mary’s Tavern, around 12:36 a.m.
Officers reportedly found two victims — one male, one female — who had both been shot multiple times.
Hamlet Fire and Rescue provided medical aid and transportation to the victims, according to Brown. The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office also responded to provide on-scene assistance.
The chief said both victims are in serious condition and receiving medical attention.
No other information about the victims was given.
Brown said the shooting is still under investigation and told the RO that detectives are reviewing video and other evidence collected at the scene to determine a motive.
Anyone with information on the shooting is encouraged to call Detective Sgt. A. Zeppetella at 910-582-2551 or Richmond County Crime Stoppers at 910-997-5454.
Hail Mary's Tavern announced on Facebook Tuesday that it would be closing until further notice:
"Due to the current environment and especially the incident that occurred right in front of our establishment last night, we will be closed until such time that we decide whether going forward is or is not in our best interest. Thanks for your understanding."
This isn’t the first shooting to happen in the area.
In February of 2015, Mitchell Green shot and killed Terry Smith outside the same bar, which was under different ownership at the time and called Sports Connection. Smith died at the scene.
Another man, Tyrone Player, was shot in the leg.
Green was convicted in 2020 of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. He is serving life without parole.
A double-fatal shooting happened Oct. 3 outside a club in McColl, South Carolina.
The victims in that shooting were 31-year-old Ronnie Oxendine and 23-year-old Bria Byrd, both of Richmond County. Three other people were injured.
Last week, five men were arrested and charged in that incident.
Detective Capt. George Gillenwater of the Rockingham Police Department confirmed Tuesday that officers responded to a call of shots fired Monday around the time of Byrd’s funeral on Leak Street.
Gillenwater said the “matter is still under investigation.”
“We have some leads and, once again, the public has been very cooperative,” Gillenwater said.
Brown said it was too early in the investigation to tell if Tuesday morning’s shooting was connected to the South Carolina incident.
There was another shooting early Sept. 18 as patrons were leaving the County Line Lounge on McNair Road.
