Family mourns 17-year-old shot, killed at Nash County party

The shootings happened at a party at a home on Lonesome Pine Road in Whitakers. The sheriff's office got a call around 1:30 on Sunday morning concerning multiple shooters at the location.

Investigators found multiple vehicles at the scene with bullet holes.

Melito Armstrong Jr. was shot in the chest and died. His mother, Quatelia Stevenson, said Armstrong had recently turned 17 in July.

"I'm not doing good," said Stevenson.

Armstrong's 16-year-old cousin Tekeyah Freeman tells me he was more like a brother to her, calling him her protector.

"He texted me last night," said Freeman. "He said I love you and be safe."

Freeman describes him as a funny, caring young man.

"When we were together, we liked to have fun," said Freeman.

And Stevenson said Armstrong enjoyed cooking for his family.

We would eat together," said Stevenson. "He got to the point where he'd learned how to cook on his own."

Another victim went to the hospital with a gunshot wound and was said to be stable.

Deputies think the shooting was not a random act and the shooters and victims knew each other. They believe the suspects in this shooting left the scene before police arrived.

Investigators said around 200 people attended the party.

If you have any information that could help with the investigation, you're asked to call the sheriff's office at (252) 459-4121.