On Sunday, January 29th, 2023, at approximately 4:36 pm, the Wayne County 911 Center received multiple calls in reference to shots fired at the intersection of Kelly Springs Rd. and Parker Rd. Mount Olive, NC. Wayne County Deputies responded to the area but were unable to locate any subjects involved with the incident.

While in the area, Deputies did find and seize items of evidence from the scene consistent with someone firing a weapon in the area. A short time later, the Wayne County 911 Center received a call about a subject suffering from a gunshot wound in the Mount Olive area. Deputies responded and located two individuals who advised that they were victims of the earlier shooting incident at Kelly Springs Rd. and Parker Rd.

One of the subjects had a minor injury and was treated by EMS and released, and Deputies determined that no one was actually shot. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division was notified, and the on-call Detective responded to the scene.

As a result of the investigation, it was determined that Sterling Vinson Blackman was the person responsible for the shooting. Warrants have been secured on Mr. Blackman for 2 counts of Assault with a
Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill and 3 counts of Discharging a Firearm into an Occupied Vehicle. If anyone knows the whereabouts of Sterling Vinson Blackman, they are asked to contact
the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office at 919-731-1480.