Victim dies 11 days after being shot in grocery store parking lot

An 18-year-old shot twice in the back in the Food Lion parking lot on Feb. 10 in north Whiteville died Sunday.

Lamont Pridgen Jr., 18, of Clarkton, died Sunday, Feb. 21, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, according to Union Funeral Home in Whiteville. Whiteville police confirmed his death in a Monday statement.

“It is unknown at this time if Lamont Pridgen’s death is related to injuries sustained from the Feb. 10 shooting,” Whiteville police said in a Monday statement. “WPD in conjunction with New Hanover Regional Medical Center Company Police and the N.C. Medical Examiner’s Office are currently investigating all possibilities regarding the death of Mr. Pridgen.”

Whiteville police Sgt. Scott Moody said the incident was reported Feb. 10 at 5:48 p.m. after gunfire erupted between two vehicles in the parking lot of the Food Lion along J.K. Powell Boulevard North. 

Moody said last week that no arrests had been made, but investigators were hoping for one soon.

After the shooting, WPD learned that a victim, later identified as Pridgen, was taken to Columbus Regional Healthcare with gunshot wounds.

Moody previously said investigators don’t believe Pridgen fired a gun.

A GoFundMe set up by Madeana Pridgen, who says she’s Lamont Pridgen’s sister, was set up Sunday to help pay for funeral costs. The page says that Lamont Pridgen “seemed to have been getting better and was moved to the rehab center at New Hanover to help him learn to walk again.” 

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Pridgen was from Whiteville.