A Whiteville man, Robert Jamar Avant, has been sentenced to 71 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. Avant pled guilty on October 17, 2024, following his involvement in a shooting incident that injured a pregnant woman.
"This reckless shootout, adjacent to t-ball fields where hundreds of kids and parents were playing, left a pregnant woman shot and enduring an emergency c-section to save her baby. It is a miracle the baby survived, and the Whiteville Police Department deserves credit for their swift action on this case," stated U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. He emphasized the importance of partnerships with local law enforcement in combating violence that endangers communities.
Court records reveal that on May 13, 2021, Avant and co-defendant Dashaud Maultsby engaged in gunfire at Sandy Ridge Apartment Complex in Whiteville. The confrontation began after Maultsby argued with his girlfriend and returned with Avant to fire AR-15 rifles at another group of men. During the exchange, Maultsby's rifle accidentally discharged, injuring Avant.
The Whiteville Police Department responded promptly and found Avant wounded in his vehicle with firearms nearby. As a convicted felon, Avant was prohibited from possessing weapons. The police also discovered that a pregnant woman had been shot during the incident, requiring an emergency cesarean section to save her child.
Maultsby received a ten-year sentence on June 6, 2024—the maximum allowed by statute—due to his criminal history including attempted trafficking of opium.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The initiative focuses on building trust within communities and supporting organizations that work to prevent violence.
U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr., announced the sentencing after U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan delivered the verdict. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Whiteville Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaren E. Kelly prosecuting the case.