GREENSBORO, N.C. — Three people were shot outside the Guilford County Courthouse Monday afternoon.
According to the Greensboro Police Department, officers and sheriff’s deputies responded to 201 S. Eugene Street in reference to the shooting.
Once on scene, they found three men who had been shot. One had non-life-threatening injuries and two were taken to local hospitals.
One of the men died at the hospital and has been identified as Avion Imeen McLean, 20, of Laurinburg. The other man who was also taken to the hospital is in critical condition, police said.
According to police, the investigation has revealed that multiple people were exchanging gunfire close to the S. Eugene Street entrance to the courthouse.
In addition, a company police officer who witnessed the shooting engaged an armed person by discharging his weapon.
Greensboro Police Chief Brian James said the preliminary investigation suggests this was not random violence.
"It’s hard to say, I would say preliminarily it looks like it was targeted but we are following up on information to confirm that but it certainly would be unusual for a random act like this to occur in broad daylight."
As of now, police are still in the process of investigating to determine the sequence of events.
"This is absolutely insane that a shooting happened downtown in broad daylight while people are going to work," Greensboro Police Chief Brian James said. "People are just trying to live, it's concerning."
Over at the Guilford County Sheriff's Office, glass shattered from the gunfire. Lori Poag, Public Information Officer with GCSO, said no one inside the building was hurt. She said she doesn't believe the shots were aimed at the sheriff's office, and that the building was just in the line of fire.
Several people called 911 when shots rang out.
One man said his car was hit by one of the bullets.
"We have a bullet hole in the front of our car," one caller said.
Another person called from inside the courthouse.
"We have bailiffs here and they’re telling us to stay inside the courtroom," a caller said.
Another call came in from a witness.
"I saw him fall down after he got shot and then he got back up," the caller said, "He might not have got shot but I think he did. There was a lot of bullets flying."
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000.