A family and community are grieving as Columbus County law enforcement work to find out who shot and killed a 7-year-old boy on Saturday, March 16.
Columbus County Sheriff Bill Rogers reported that the shooting occurred around 9 p.m. on Braswell Road in Chadbourn. Someone fired shots into a mobile home, resulting in the death of 7-year-old Antonio Jamal Maultsby Jr.
The grandmother of the 7-year-old, Martha David, told WECT News that she was sitting beside her grandson when the shots rang out, and she wants whoever is responsible to be brought to justice.
“Whoever did this I hope y’all get them. God knows I hope y’all get them,” she said. “I don’t know what caused this, none of it. I don’t know why someone would want to do this, but they did do it and I don’t know why.”
A 3-year-old child and several others were also inside the home at the time of the shooting.
Little Antonio was a student at Chadbourn Elementary. On Sunday, March 17, the school principal made a Facebook post calling Antonio’s death an “immense loss.”
On Monday night, a prayer vigil was held for Antonio, and his family is upset that there are still no answers as to who is responsible for this.
Columbus County Sheriff Bill Rogers says the police are working diligently to determine who committed this act.
“People was reaching out from all over the state and calling what they can do to help, you know, locate the guy, the people who murdered the kid, and help with his funeral cost. So it’s just a community effort and as I say, a statewide effort,” said Rogers.
The reward for information on Antonio’s death has increased to over $4,000,000, thanks to donations from various individuals, including strangers.
The vigil also served as a fundraiser for funeral and burial expenses.
