Bryant Gregory Eaves Jr., an 18-year-old man from South Carolina, is in custody after a dispute at AMC Theaters at Concord Mills Mall. The incident occurred during a dispute over a seat in the movie theater to see the Jordan Peele film “Us,” according to the New York Post.
Eaves is from Indian Land, South Carolina, but the shooting took place at around 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 24 in Concord, North Carolina. The 18-year-old charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill.
The victim, who suffered non-life threatening injuries, was 24-year-old William Weldon.
Weldon previously served in the Army Reserves.
From The Herald:
Weldon, an Army reservist, said he walked into the theater with his mother and saw a man and woman in his assigned seats, according to WSOC-TV, The Herald’s news partner. Weldon said he showed the people in his seats his tickets. Weldon said he was ambushed afterward, and did not fight or argue with Eaves.
Weldon provided photos from the hospital on social media and provided an update in a media statement.
“I appreciate all the love and support from the community and people around Charlotte people who don’t even know me,” Weldon said on Facebook, according to the Daily Mail. “I am overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone understanding me and the story and those of you who stopped and helped me when I was bleeding on the floor of the mall and to the paramedics who acted swiftly on my behalf and to my military family who always support me, I say thank you.”
Us scored the No. 1 spot in the box office over its opening weekend with $70 million, according to Box Office Mojo.