One 16-year-old killed, another wounded by gunfire at Concord park, NC police say

A 16-year-old boy was killed, and a second 16-year-old was wounded when shots were fired at a popular Concord city park, according to police.

It happened just before 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the back parking lot of at Hartsell Park on Sunderland Road SW, officials said.

“The preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, 17-year-old Yanixan Arellanes Silva, arranged to meet with the victims to purchase an item they were selling through social media,” Concord police said.

“A brawl broke out and the suspect fired a gun at the victims, killing one and seriously injuring a second.”

Silva is being charged as an adult with: first degree murder; assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill; two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and failure to report a death, police said.

Hartsell Park is 14 acres and includes picnic facilities and playground equipment.

The park is about a 25-mile drive northeast from uptown Charlotte.

This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 5:51 AM with the headline "One 16-year-old killed, another wounded by gunfire at Concord park, NC police say."