Parents say shooting that claimed life of Iredell County student ‘scares me’

STATESVILLE, N.C. — Students at two Iredell County schools learned virtually Friday after one student died and another was hurt in a shooting.

Statesville police said 19-year-old Zion Wilder was killed on Goldsboro Avenue and a 15-year-old was rushed to the hospital after the shooting Wednesday.

On Friday, the Statesville Police Department announced that three suspects had been identified.

Channel 9′s Dan Matics spoke to some parents Friday who fear for their children’s safety.

“It scares me. It scares me a lot. Not just for my kids, but for all of the kids in the community,” Brittney Bergmyer said.

Wilder’s aunt spoke with Channel 9′s Glenn Counts on Thursday night.

“We definitely want justice,” she said. “But it wouldn’t bring him back. It’s not going to ease the pain.”

Northview Academy was closed on Thursday out of concern for students and staff due to the incident, the district said. Police said the two teens were students at Northview Academy and Statesville High School, and for that reason, both moved to remote learning Friday.

Other schools were placed on security alert. Bergmyer has two kids in two of those schools.

“We are terrified to send him to school sometimes just because you never know what’s going to happen,” she said.

‘This is nothing new, it hurts even more’

According to a news release sent Thursday morning, officers were called for a report of shots fired. SPD officers found Wilder and the 15-year-old shot inside.

The 15-year-old was reported to be in critical condition Thursday afternoon. Both were shot in the head.

Police say in an update Thursday afternoon that “unknown suspects fired multiple rounds into the front of the residence from the street.” In addition to the two teenagers who were shot, there were three adults and three other teenagers inside the home at the time of the shooting.

Wilder’s aunt showed Channel 9 the bullet holes inside the car and the house. She said they were eating dinner when the gunfire erupted.

“In light of an ongoing investigation that occurred last night involving students in our community, multiple campuses were placed on security alert today,” Iredell-Statesville Schools stated Thursday. “A security alert allows the school to limit movement and to secure the outside perimeter without interrupting the learning day.”

Northview Academy and Statesville High School announced their remote learning day Thursday as well.

“It is our goal to keep our students safe and focused on learning,” the news release read. “As a district committed to continuous improvement, our safety team will continue to work with the Statesville Police Department to provide resources to improve and protect the safety of our students and staff.”

Iredell-Statesville Schools Superintendent Jeff James told the Free News that a student was one of the people shot inside the home.

Statesville City Councilmember Doris Allison says she was devastated when she learned about the teens being gunned down.

“Oh, my God, you know, here we go again, unnecessary,” Allison says. “What can we do to make a difference in the lives of our youth?”

Allison says gun violence is becoming too common, and she’s calling for the community to put a stop to it.

“This is nothing new, it hurts even more. We’re seeing a rapid pace on things that should not be,” Allison says. “But I think this is bigger than a south Statesville issue, this has to become a city issue.”

Wilder’s aunt tells Channel 9 that the 19-year-old was just two months away from graduating.

SPD is asking anyone with information to call 704-878-3406.

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