Two Dead, 13 Injured in Robeson County Mass Shooting; Victims Identified as Jessie Locklear and His Son.

Two Dead, 13 Injured in Robeson County Mass Shooting; Victims Identified as Jessie Locklear and His Son.

A late-night party in eastern North Carolina ended in tragedy early Sunday morning when gunfire erupted, leaving two people dead and 13 others injured, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said deputies responded to reports of a mass shooting around 3:00 a.m. on Dixon Drive, just outside Maxton, where more than 150 people had gathered for a large outdoor party.

When deputies arrived, chaos had already unfolded—witnesses said dozens of attendees fled the area before law enforcement could secure the scene. Investigators later identified the two deceased victims as Jessie Locklear and his son.

Several other individuals sustained critical injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment.

Sheriff Wilkins said early evidence indicates the shooting was an isolated incident, with no ongoing threat to the public.

“The investigation is moving quickly,” Wilkins said. “We know there were many people present when this occurred. If you saw something or know something, we need you to come forward to help bring justice to the victims and their families.”

The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, with support from multiple law enforcement agencies, continues to process the scene and interview witnesses as detectives work to determine the motive and identify all individuals involved.

Anyone with information about the shooting or who attended the gathering is urged to contact Robeson County Sheriff’s Investigators at 910-671-3100.

The investigation remains active as the community mourns the loss of Jessie Locklear and his son, whose lives were cut short in the senseless act of violence.