3 Charged in Wilson Wal-Mart Shooting That Injured 4

WILSON, N.C. — Wilson police arrested three men Friday and were searching for a fourth in connection with a shooting outside a discount store that injured four people.

The shooting happened at about 1:25 a.m. Friday outside the 24-hour Wal-Mart at 2500 Forest Hills Road.

Investigators were still trying to determine what prompted the shootings, but witnesses at the scene told WRAL that they saw about 20 teenagers dressed in tuxedos hanging out in the parking lot. They then heard yelling and shots being fired.

"So, everyone runs out to see what happened, and we see a victim (lying) on the ground … with a gunshot wound," said shopper Bo Barnes, who was inside the store at the time.

Three of the victims -- Philip McNeil, 19, of Sharpsburg; Christopher Jerome Bullock, 21, of Wilson; and Markel Quishon Barnes, 18, of Elm City -- were treated at Wilson Medical Center for minor injuries and later released.

The fourth victim, Stephon Chester Brooks, 17, of Elm City, was airlifted to Pitt Memorial Hospital for emergency surgery. He was listed in critical condition Friday afternoon.

Friends said the victims were all students at Fike High School in Wilson and that they had been at the prom prior to the shooting.

"I'm really kind of mad about it, because I don't want it to mess up his school career and stuff," said Tracey Terry, one of two friends of the Brooks, who arrived at the crime scene still in their tuxedos. "Because it's his last year, and he needs to go on and get out of here. He's just like my brother, so I'm worried about him."

Police arrested Terrell Bynum, 18, of 1209 Thurston Drive in Wilson and charged him with four counts of attempted first-degree murder. He was being held Friday afternoon in the Wilson County Jail under a $250,000 secured bond.

Officers later arrested two other men in connection with the case and were looking for a fourth man Friday afternoon. Anthony Jerrel Cannady, 18, of 215 R.B. Ave., Stantonsburg, and Christopher Todd Davis, 20, of 820 Starmount Circle, Wilson, were charged with four counts of accessory after the fact of attempted first-degree murder.

Davis was also charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and maintaining a dwelling.

Police are also looking for Maurice Ruffin, 21, of 407 Applewhite Avenue, Stantonsburg. They plan to charge him with four counts of attempted first-degree murder.

Anyone with information about the case should contact the Wilson Police Department at 252-399-2323 or Wilson CrimeStoppers at 252-243-2255.

Many customers were stuck in the store for several hours because their cars were inside the taped-off crime-scene area where police were investigating.