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William Brent Gilmore

Age : 35

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 08/18/2023

Location : Market Street near Lennon Drive

City : New Hanover

County : New Hanover

State : North Carolina

Agency : Wilmington Police Department; New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office

Officer(s) :Unknown

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police after pursuit during investigation of shootings and kidnapping

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/18/2023, Wilmington Police Department, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and Wrightsville Beach Police Department personnel were searching for 35-year-old William Brent Gilmore after investigators connected him to several violent incidents during the preceding approximately 20 hours. Police alleged that the incidents began on 08/17 when seven shots were fired into an occupied home on Dixie Avenue. About 45 minutes later, 54-year-old Shelley Lancaster was shot multiple times while walking her dog on Lake Avenue. Investigators reported finding 9mm shell casings at both locations.
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On 08/18, Wrightsville Beach police responded to another incident involving a woman at a residence on Scotch Bonnet Lane. Authorities alleged that Gilmore assaulted the woman, restrained her with zip ties and confined her in a storage area. The woman escaped, and investigators reported finding shell casings at the scene matching the caliber recovered in the Wilmington shootings.
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Law enforcement located Gilmore driving in Wilmington and pursued him onto Market Street. During the pursuit, multiple crashes occurred as officers attempted to stop his vehicle. Police ultimately used a vehicle-intervention maneuver to stop Gilmore near Market Street and Lennon Drive.
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Gilmore got out of the stopped vehicle and ran. Police alleged that he fired repeatedly at pursuing officers at close range. Three New Hanover County sheriff’s deputies and one Wilmington police officer returned fire, striking Gilmore multiple times. He died at the scene.
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A subsequent autopsy documented 17 gunshot wounds. Toxicology testing did not indicate alcohol or drugs contributed to his death.
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The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation investigated the fatal police shooting. On 08/24/2023, New Hanover County District Attorney Ben David announced that none of the four officers would face criminal charges. Wilmington police also released traffic-camera video showing portions of the pursuit and gunfire.
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The four shooters were three New Hanover County sheriff’s deputies and one Wilmington Police Department officer. Although officials said the four would later be formally recognized by their agencies for their actions, the contemporary follow-up reporting still described them as unnamed.
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SOURCE LINKS :

https://portcitydaily.com/latest-news/2023/08/18/man-killed-by-local-police-suspect-in-2-shootings-wb-assault-market-street-chase/
https://www.wwaytv3.com/new-details-suspect-tied-to-three-shootings-and-kidnapping-in-wrightsville-beach-shot-and-killed-by-wpd-nhso/
https://portcitydaily.com/local-news/2023/08/24/video-police-respond-to-market-street-shooting-officers-wont-face-charges/
https://www.wect.com/2023/08/24/wilmington-police-release-video-officer-involved-shooting-market-street/
https://www.wect.com/2024/02/21/autopsy-released-man-killed-police-shootout-after-crime-spree-wilmington-area/