‘I’m lucky': Belmont townhomes sprayed with gunfire during drive-by shooting

BELMONT, N.C. — Security video captured suspects in an SUV opening fire into a Belmont apartment complex early Monday.

Nobody was hit by the gunfire, but the bullets narrowly missed a child. Police are trying to figure out who pulled the trigger and why.

The shots rang out shortly after 1 a.m. on Hawley Avenue. Gaston County reporter Ken Lemon spoke to someone inside the building who said he feels lucky to be alive.

Police said the shooting was a targeted attack, but who may have been targeted and why is still a mystery.

[Police: Sleeping 5-year-old hit by shrapnel after shots fired into Rock Hill home]

The building that was shot at has eight townhouse apartments. Bullet holes could be seen on the siding outside two of them. Authorities said the gunfire nearly hit a child inside.

A neighbor’s security camera captured the SUV driving down Hawley Avenue, before turning around and slowly heading back toward Forest Glenn townhomes. Once in front of the building, the driver stops, and several flashes can be seen as someone fires a gun out the side window.

"It was just bam, bam, bam, bam," said William Sams.

He was awake and headed to bed when the shooting started. Several of the bullets hit his home.

"I run upstairs and of course that's where they were shooting," he told Channel 9.

[ALSO READ: No arrests made after man, woman seriously hurt in Chester drive-by shooting]

Police cut through the wall in his bedroom closet in order to retrieve some of the bullets.

One bullet hit his neighbor's bedroom. She was asleep with her 7-month-old son.

“It could have ended much worse,” Sams said. “All of the shots were at the bedrooms. That time of night, most people were in the bedroom sleeping. I’m lucky.”

Detectives said whoever opened fire put a lot of lives at risk.

“Why is beyond me,” Sams said. “I don’t know why someone would do that.”

Belmont police are working with Gaston County police to find the person responsible.

Police: Boy, 12, killed after 2 homes hit by gunfire in Wadesboro drive-by Police: Boy, 12, killed after 2 homes hit by gunfire in Wadesboro drive-by

Cox Media Group