HAMLET — A fight outside a local soup kitchen sent one man to the hospital and another to jail.
Officers were called to a brawl on Hamlet Avenue between the Richmond County Soup Kitchen and The Ballroom between 12:30 and 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, according to the Hamlet Police Department.
When officers arrived, William Riggins was reportedly found with a stab wound to his chest and a witness reportedly pointed out 29-year-old Southern Randolph Mills as the perpetrator.
Investigators reportedly learned that there had been words exchanged between Riggins and Mills, which led to a fist fight and ultimately escalated the stabbing.
Mills’ girlfriend, who has not been named, was also reportedly beaten up after getting into an altercation with another female who was trying to stop the fight.
Police say the case is still under investigation and more individuals may be charged.
Mills was arrested and charged with a single count of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. He was booked into the Richmond County Jail where he was still being held Thursday evening on a $30,000 secured bond.
Online court records and the arrest warrant list Mills as being homeless, although prior records show an address on Campbell Road in the Hamlet area.
Mills has a pending charge of second-degree trespassing from 2024. Records show he failed to appear in court on Sept. 12, Feb. 26 and March 19. However, it doesn’t appear an order for arrest has been issued in that case.
Mills was convicted in January of giving fictitious information to an officer.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Mills was convicted in 2021 of injury to personal property and given probation.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
