Gunfire erupted in the neighborhood just a day before the New Year.
GASTONIA, N.C. — A Gastonia family is shaken after a stray bullet flew through their front window, traveling through the house and out the back.
It happened on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, around 4 a.m. along Pikes Peak Drive in the southwest part of town. Inside the home were Marcus Stallings, his wife, and their kids.
Stallings and his family said they had a safe feeling when they moved into their home in Gastonia a few months back. The location, the neighborhood, and the people all felt right. But that changed on Monday.
“We were woken up by several gunshots,” Stallings said. “There were six.”
He said his first instinct was to check on his family, hoping his kids and wife were okay. He was relieved they were fine but obviously traumatized by what happened.
Stallings said the next day, he discovered a stray bullet broke through a window at the front of the home, went through the home, and exited out the back. He told WCNC Charlotte the thought of what could have happened scares him.
“Instead of sitting here talking to you, I could have been picking out a casket,” Stallings said. “This could be a totally different situation.”
Gastonia Police said as we move into 2025, the department is taking a forward-thinking approach to handling crime.
“The Gastonia Police Department is proactively identifying hot spots and problem areas to enhance public safety and address emerging challenges in 2025,” it said in a statement. “This data-driven approach ensures focused and effective law enforcement efforts in our community.”
Contact Austin Walker at awalker@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
