Victim recovering after second Sandy Ridge shooting in a month

A small gun

Updated with additional information

A Whiteville man is recovering in New Hanover Regional after he became the second shooting victim in a month at Sandy Ridge Apartments.

Whiteville Police Lt. Andre Jackson said Stephon Geathers, 35, was shot in each leg early Monday. His injuries were not life threatening, Jackson said. Whiteville Police are investigating the incident.

Geathers was shot at the apartment complex on the east side of the city It was the second shooting in less than a month at the Sandy Ridge apartment complex. A juvenile has been charged with shooting another teen in the face in the earlier incident.

The call came in to County 911 at 1:24 a.m., according to police reports.

A juvenile was arrested last week on a juvenile petition after he allegedly shot another youth in the face in July. That victim is also recovering.

The complex has been the scene of at least two other shootings in recent years, both of which were fatal.

Diondi Xavier Sadler was shot to death at the complex on July 30, 2019, according to police reports. A father and son, Nathan and Natrell McKinnies, were arrested and Natrell charged with murder in that shooting. The elder McKinnies allegedly was at the scene and helped his son flee and hide evidence. Sadler had been shot and wounded a few weeks before during a fracas in a parking lot at Washington Street and J.K. Powell Boulevard.

The earlier case occurred in December 2017, when Bobby Lee Johnson of Fair Bluff was shot multiple times near an apartment at the complex. His killer has not been arrested.

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Jefferson Weaver is the Managing Editor of Columbus County News and the News Director for WTXY AM1540 & Kool 103.9FM Radio. He can be reached at (910) 632-4965, or by email at jeffersonweaver@ColumbusCountyNews.com.