Police said it was not an active shooter situation, but the store closed as investigators worked.
WILSON, N.C. — Police in Wilson investigated a report of shots fired at a Walmart on Christmas Eve after a fight inside the store escalated to gunfire, prompting shoppers to rush for exits and forcing the retailer to close while officers searched the building and interviewed people involved.
The report drew a large response on one of the busiest shopping days of the year and quickly spread on social media as customers described panic near the store’s interior barbershop area. By late Wednesday, police said the incident was not an active shooter situation, but they were still sorting out who pulled a gun first and how a shot was fired. Two men were jailed on attempted first-degree murder charges as investigators worked to piece together what happened inside the store and whether anyone was hurt.
Officers were called to the Walmart in Wilson just before noon on Wed., Dec. 24, after reports that a shot had been fired in the store. Customers and employees poured into the parking lot as police arrived and began clearing the building. Video from the scene showed patrol cars lined up outside as officers went in and out of the main entrance. A television news helicopter hovering overhead showed a person being taken to an ambulance, though officials did not immediately say what injuries that person might have had or whether the medical response was connected to the gunfire.
Investigators said the confrontation began inside the store and centered around a barbershop area. Police and witnesses described an argument that turned into a physical fight, with multiple people stepping in to try to separate the men. Wilson police said they interviewed three men to determine the sequence of events and the roles each played as the situation escalated. The agency said it was still working to determine who drew a gun first, who pointed it at whom, and how the gunshot occurred amid the struggle.
Police identified Ashton Marcal Pittman, 19, of Wilson, as one of the men involved in the argument. Officers said Pittman argued with Alexander Jones, 30, of Stantonsburg, and that Pittman drew a gun during the dispute. Police said another man, Jordan Lamar Battle, 30, of Black Creek, then became involved as the confrontation intensified. The exact relationship among the men, and what initially set off the argument, was not immediately released.
As the dispute grew louder, people nearby moved in to stop it. Witnesses described bystanders breaking up the fight and physically separating the men. Police said Pittman was disarmed by others in the store and held until officers arrived. Those quick actions, along with the fact that investigators said there was no ongoing threat when police got on scene, helped explain why officials repeatedly emphasized that the incident did not match the pattern of an active shooter situation, even as the store was evacuated and the area was sealed off.
Still, the moment a shot was fired created instant fear. One shopper, Chinita Pigford, described the scene as chaotic, saying people were scared and running as they tried to get away from the sound. “It was terrifying,” Pigford said in an interview, adding that there were children and older people in the store when it happened. Her account matched what other witnesses described: a sudden burst of panic and a scramble to reach the nearest exit, with many customers gathering in the parking lot and waiting for updates while police searched inside.
Wilson police said their investigation focused on reconstructing the critical seconds when weapons were displayed and the gun fired. Officials said they were reviewing statements and working to learn whether any surveillance video captured the fight, the movements of the men, and the moment the gun discharged. In crowded retail settings, investigators often rely on multiple camera angles and witness accounts to confirm timelines, especially when a large group is moving at once. Police did not say Wednesday how many shots were fired, but reports from the scene centered on a single gunshot.
By Wednesday afternoon and evening, authorities had announced serious charges tied to the gunfire. Police charged Pittman and Battle with attempted first-degree murder, and both were held in the Wilson County Jail without bond. Investigators did not immediately release court documents laying out the specific allegations for each man, such as whether the attempted murder charge was tied to a shot fired in someone’s direction or to an alleged intent inferred from the act of drawing and aiming a weapon during the fight. Police also did not immediately announce any charges against Jones, the Stantonsburg man identified as part of the initial argument.
The Walmart closed as police worked the scene, disrupting last-minute holiday shopping and leaving some customers unable to retrieve carts or purchases left behind when the store was cleared. Shoppers could be seen standing in clusters near their cars, watching officers at the doors and trying to contact family members. Employees also waited outside, some still in work vests, as police went room to room. The shutdown reflected standard safety steps when officers respond to a gunfire report inside a large building with multiple entrances and a high volume of customers.
Officials provided few details about injuries. The sight of someone taken to an ambulance raised questions at the scene, but police did not immediately confirm whether anyone was shot, injured during the fight, or treated for an unrelated medical emergency. Authorities also did not say whether a firearm was recovered from the scene and logged as evidence, though the description of bystanders disarming Pittman indicated at least one weapon was taken away during the struggle. Investigators did not immediately provide information about permits or ownership, and it was not clear whether additional weapons were involved beyond the gun seen during the fight.
In a brief public message posted during the response, the Wilson Police Department said it was aware of reports of shots fired in the area of Walmart and that officers were on scene conducting an investigation. The department also said it had determined the situation was not an active shooter event. That language appeared aimed at calming fears as rumors spread online and as some callers reported hearing “shots” without knowing the source. Police asked people to avoid the area while they worked, a common request when investigators need room for emergency vehicles and want to keep the public away from an active crime scene.
The incident added to a growing list of violent disruptions in large retail stores nationwide, and it underscored the challenges for police and security teams when fights erupt in crowded public places. Walmart stores, like other big-box retailers, are built as open spaces with long sightlines and heavy foot traffic, which can make it difficult for shoppers to know where danger is coming from when a loud bang or shouted warning breaks out. In Wilson, witnesses described confusion in the first moments, with some people unsure whether the sound was a gunshot until they saw others sprinting toward the doors.
For Wilson, a city in eastern North Carolina, the timing was especially jarring: Christmas Eve is typically one of the busiest retail days, with families shopping for meals, last-minute gifts, and travel supplies. The store’s closure rippled beyond the immediate safety response, affecting employees scheduled for holiday shifts and customers trying to finish errands before gatherings. By later in the day, the parking lot that had been packed with cars was largely cleared, replaced by police tape and scattered news crews, as investigators continued to collect information.
What happens next will depend on the findings from interviews, video review, and any forensic work tied to the gunshot. Police said they were working to determine the sequence of actions among the three men, including who drew a weapon first and how the shot was fired. Those details can shape how prosecutors argue intent and whether the attempted murder charges are pursued as filed or adjusted as the case develops. In North Carolina, serious felony charges typically lead to an initial appearance before a magistrate or judge, followed by later hearings where bond conditions and evidence issues can be addressed.
Authorities have not publicly announced a timeline for additional updates, but investigators often release more information after they have completed initial witness interviews and confirmed details that can be shared without compromising the case. Police may also seek to identify and interview more witnesses, including customers who were in nearby aisles or in the barbershop area, and employees who may have responded first. If surveillance video exists, investigators can use it to confirm positions, distances, and whether anyone was in the line of fire when the gun discharged.
Outside the store, shoppers described a scene that shifted from routine holiday bustle to fear in seconds. Some people clutched children as they hurried across the parking lot. Others left carts behind, abandoning planned purchases to get outside quickly. As sirens arrived and officers formed teams at the entrance, people began calling friends and relatives to say they were safe. The crowd outside quieted as police secured the building, and many customers waited for word on when they could leave or whether they would be allowed back in.
Even as the immediate threat passed, the incident left many shaken. Pigford, the shopper who described the moment as terrifying, said the most upsetting part was seeing people afraid and running. Her comments reflected the broader mood outside the store: relief that police said it was not an active shooter situation, mixed with anger that gunfire broke out in a place filled with families. Several shoppers expressed frustration that an argument could escalate so quickly in a public space, and they worried about what might have happened if the gunshot had struck someone in the crowd.
Late Wednesday, Wilson police continued their investigation and said the situation inside the Walmart was under control, with the store closed during the response. The next milestone in the case is expected to come as the men charged appear in court and investigators release additional details about injuries, evidence collected, and the events leading up to the gunshot.
Author note: Last updated December 24, 2025.