FAYETTEVILLE -- Two juveniles were shot Thursday night while they were in a parking lot near Washington Regional Medical Center.
Police said the two, both males, were in the hospital-owned parking lot in the area of North Gregg Avenue and West Appleby Road for "some sort of transaction."
"Our initial investigation indicates they went to that location to buy or sell something," Sgt. Anthony Murphy said Friday morning. "We're not sure exactly what but there was some sort of transaction taking place."
Murphy said the pair drove themselves to the emergency room at the hospital and were admitted with critical, but not life-threatening, injuries.
Murphy said police found shell casings from what they believe to be a handgun at the parking lot. The investigation is still active, Murphy said, and no arrests have been made.
Murphy said the Police Department has investigated at least 17 shooting incidents in 2023 involving property damage, personal injury or death. In 2022, he said, the department investigated 30 shooting incidents and in 2021 there were 42 shooting incidents reported.
Murphy said there was a report of a shooting Saturday night on Dickson Street. In that incident, he said, police found shell casings but didn't find a victim.