HAMLET — A man is fighting for his life after being shot over the weekend.
Investigators with the Hamlet Police Department say the 65-year-old victim was sitting on the porch of his Wilmington Street home just before 9:30 Saturday night when he was wounded.
Witnesses at the scene told investigators they saw two black men walking down Pine Street before opening fire.
The victim was shot once in the abdomen and taken to an undisclosed hospital where investigators say he is in critical, but stable, condition.
Patrol officers responding to the call also found narcotics at the scene.
The case is still under investigation and anyone with information is encouraged to call the Hamlet Police Department at 910-582-2551 or Richmond County Crime Stoppers at 910-997-5454.
This is the second shooting in the city limits so far this year.
Jonathan Lindsey Brown Jr., 29, is accused in the Jan. 17 shooting of Travis Jenks on Thomas Street.
Brown was charged with one felony count each of attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Records show he was scheduled to appear in Richmond County Superior Court on Monday. All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
While there have only been two shootings in the Seaboard City this year, there have been several other violent crimes, all within a close proximity.
The Circle B convenience store on the corner of N.C. 177 and Earle Franklin Drive was held up by three suspects, at least two of whom were armed, Feb. 26.
The week prior, a car was shot while travelling down Earle Franklin Drive in Dobbins Heights. One bullet went through the passenger window, sending a woman to the hospital with scratches on her face from broken glass.
Earlier in February, a woman had her purse stolen from the Dollar General parking lot by two armed men. That same night, a man was robbed at knifepoint in his own backyard.
No arrests have been made and investiagators with the Hamlet Police Department and Richmond County Sheriff’s Office say there are no suspects in any of those cases.
There were also several shootings in May, June, October and December.