MONROE, N.C. — Two Wingate men were arrested Monday in connection with a December 2025 shooting where more than 10 rounds were fired into an occupied home in Monroe. A fight at a high school basketball game the day before led to the gunfire, police said.
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No one was hurt but Amaury Andrew Bowman, 18 and Bryce Jy’mir Covington, 19, were both charged with discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling.
The charges stem from a shooting reported on Dec. 10, 2025, in the 400 block of West Sunset Drive, police said. While multiple people, including young children and older adults, were inside the residence at the time of the gunfire, no injuries were reported.
Detectives determined that two individuals opened fire on the home from the baseball fields at Sunset Park before fleeing the area on foot.
“There were maybe 20 shell casings collected of two different calibers,” said Lt. Morgan Malone, Monroe PD.
Investigators utilized modern technology, including license plate readers provided by Flock Safety, to assist in identifying and locating the two suspects.
“In piecing the investigation together, he was able to use that photograph of the vehicle, and he was able to search prior dates times on Flock and find that vehicle and its license plate,” Malone said.
The shooting in Monroe was in retaliation of another drive-by shooting that happened in Wingate the day before, Malone said.
In that case, the Union County Sheriff’s Office arrested a juvenile and Tayvion Young and charged them with attempted murder.
Covington was listed as victim and he’s the suspect in the Monroe shooting.
“If you do the crime, you should do the time,” said local business owner Mike Jones.
Jones owns Clippers Barber and Beauty in downtown Monroe and said he’s troubled by the gun violence and would like to see changes.
“Too many families have been impacted by gun violence. My family has been impacted by gun violence,” Jones said.
The Monroe Police Department worked with several other agencies during the course of the investigation.
Monroe Police said they are currently trying to expand their Flock camera system.
They currently have around 20 cameras and would like to see 70 in the city.
In February, the department presented its plan to city council hoping to secure the funded need for it.
Department officials expressed appreciation to the Union County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance in the case.
Both Bowman and Covington were booked into the Union County Detention Center following their arrests.
Police Chief Rhett Bolen emphasized that the department remained dedicated to the investigation in the months following the initial 911 call.
“At the Monroe Police Department, we don’t give up on cases – no matter how long they take,” Bolen said. “Our detectives remain committed to pursuing every lead, every available resource and ensuring accountability. Time does not diminish our dedication to victims or our responsibility to the community.”
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