ASHEBORO, N.C. (ACME NEWS) — A man out on bond for possession of a stolen AR-15 style pistol was arrested Friday night after a shooting in Asheboro that left one person injured.
According to a press release from the Asheboro Police Department (APD), just before 11 p.m. on August 15 officers responded to reports of gunfire in the area of Watkins Street. Moments later, a victim arrived at a business at Elm and Salisbury streets suffering from gunshot wounds to his upper arm and neck. Officers provided emergency medical aid until EMS arrived, and Curtis was taken to an out-of-county hospital in critical condition. His condition was later upgraded to stable, and he is expected to survive.
Investigators located a crime scene on Watkins Street, recovering multiple rifle-caliber shell casings. Police said the casings were consistent with bullet damage found in the victim’s vehicle.
The suspect, 22-year-old Dwayne Emilio Rivera, was found nearby and taken into custody. A search warrant led investigators to a firearm believed to be consistent with the evidence collected. Rivera was charged with Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Injury, Felony Discharging a Firearm into an Occupied Vehicle, and Discharging a Firearm within City Limits. He was booked into the Randolph County Jail, where he was denied bond.
Court records show Rivera was already facing felony charges for possession of a stolen firearm just days earlier. On August 13, Asheboro Police arrested him on a warrant issued July 29, accusing him of possessing a stolen Anderson AM-15 AR-15 pistol in mid-July. At his first hearing the following day, his bond was set at $7,500 secured, which he posted through a bail company the same day, securing his release.
In the new warrant, investigators allege Rivera used an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle in Friday night’s shooting, firing into Curtis’ occupied vehicle on Watkins Street.
In a Facebook post, Lieutenant Jacob Kennedy with APD credited the teamwork of multiple divisions in making a quick arrest. Writing on Facebook, he said:
“This case would not have been solved so quickly without the swift actions of our Patrol Division, the knowledge and tenacious actions of the [Vice Narcotics] + Street Crimes Unit, and some dedicated work from our [Criminal Investigation Division]/CSI investigators.”
The Asheboro Police Department said the investigation is ongoing.
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