WINGATE, N.C. — A shooting at Wingate University's baseball field sent the campus into lockdown Friday night during a youth baseball game.
Alerts shared by the school's alert system on X indicated it happened around 7 p.m. A person was in custody and the alert said the incident didn't involve anyone in the campus community.
The lockdown remained active as law enforcement remained on the scene. Wingate advised anyone on campus to stay away from the baseball field and promised more information.
A campus-wide email shared by a university spokesperson said the shooting happened just after 7 p.m. while a youth baseball game was happening. Police reported a man drove erratically down Wilson Street, jumped out of his car, and entered the field.
Multiple shots were fired, but the university email said he was hurt by his own gun and airlifted to a hospital. Nobody else was hurt.
The email also said the shooter was not affiliated with Wingate University. The lockdown was lifted after an hour.
The Wingate Police Department later shared more details on Facebook. Officers said they arrived and saw the man had a gunshot wound while running around the field. First responders tried to give him medical attention, but he ran away from them. He was quickly subdued and hospitalized in critical condition.
Investigators said they determined the man drove his pickup truck off the roadway and into a ditch near the field, disabling the vehicle. He then fired several gunshots inside the cab, hurting himself in the process. After than, he got out of the pickup and jumped over the fence into the baseball field.
The man's identity is being withheld at this time and this was an isolated incident. Deputies with the Union County Sheriff's Office assisted.
In addition to being charged with having a gun on an educational property, the man is being charged with "going armed to the terror of the public" and "assault by pointing a gun," police said.
He was also charged with multiple felony-controlled substance violations.
The investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with more information can leave a tip with Union County Crime Stoppers by calling (704) 283-5600.
The full email sent to the Wingate University campus follows:
Shortly after 7 p.m. tonight, Wingate University issued a lockdown after police received reports of a shooting at the baseball field. Police say a man drove erratically down Wilson Street, jumped out of his car and entered the baseball field. Multiple shots were fired, and the shooter was injured by his own gun. He was airlifted to the hospital.
The shooter is not affiliated with Wingate University, and no Wingate University employees or students were injured or involved in the incident. Police remain on campus investigating the incident, which happened during a non-University youth baseball game.
The lockdown was lifted about an hour later.
Any additional details will be sent via email.
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