A wounded driver, an infant and a woman were taken to hospitals after violence broke out Monday afternoon near Interstate 40.
NEWTON, N.C. — Newton police are investigating a reported kidnapping attempt and shooting Monday afternoon at the Love’s Travel Stop on Southfork Drive, where a driver was found shot inside a crashed vehicle with an unharmed infant nearby.
Officers were called to the truck stop area about 1:15 p.m. after reports of a possible kidnapping and shooting. Police found a vehicle that had struck a utility pole. Inside, they found a man with multiple gunshot wounds and an infant who did not appear to be hurt. The case remained active Monday evening as investigators searched for the people involved and worked to determine what led to the violence.
Police said the driver had gone to the area to meet someone before the confrontation began. Investigators said an armed man got into the back seat of the vehicle and pointed a gun at the driver. A second armed man tried to pull a passenger from the vehicle, police said. The driver then sped away, and the passenger was thrown from the vehicle as it moved. The vehicle later crashed into a utility pole near the truck stop.
Officers began life-saving treatment at the scene before the wounded man was taken to Catawba Valley Medical Center. He was later flown to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte for further care. Authorities did not release his name Monday, citing safety concerns. A woman connected to the incident and the infant were also taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, police said.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene after the shooting. Lindsey Punch, who lives across the street from the truck stop, said she saw a woman get out of the vehicle screaming and fall to her knees. “Terrifying living so close by,” Punch said. She said she went over to help and held the woman’s 2-month-old baby. Another witness said the mother was screaming about her baby before the shooting.
The Love’s Travel Stop sits along Southfork Drive in Newton, a city in Catawba County about 45 miles northwest of Charlotte. Truck stops in the area serve local drivers, long-haul truckers and travelers moving through the Hickory and Newton corridor. Police did not say Monday whether the meeting at the truck stop was planned in advance, whether the people involved knew one another or whether the infant was in the vehicle when the gunfire began.
No arrests had been announced Monday evening. Police said the suspect or suspects left the area, and the investigation remained open. Officials did not release a full description of the gunmen or the vehicle used to leave the scene. Investigators also had not said whether charges had been filed. Police asked anyone with information to contact Investigator C. Davis as detectives continued reviewing the shooting, the crash and the reported kidnapping attempt.
Customers who were at the truck stop after the shooting said the violence left them shaken. Jeremiah Elder, who had just left the store with his family, called the scene frightening. Esneralda Rios, another customer, said the incident raised concerns about safety in a public place used by families, drivers and workers throughout the day. Police remained cautious about releasing details while the people involved were still being located.
The wounded driver’s condition had not been updated by late Monday. Newton police said the case remained active, with the next major step expected to come when investigators identify suspects, announce charges or release more details about the vehicle used to leave the scene.
Author note: Last updated May 11, 2026.