It was supposed to be a late-night outdoor Halloween celebration—what attendees might have thought would be a fun, festive gathering turned into a nightmare when gunshots rang out early Saturday on a dirt road outside the small town of Maxton in rural southeastern North Carolina. At around 1:15 a.m., deputies from the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office were called to the 200-block of Dixon Drive near McGirt Gin Road following a loud-music complaint—but before they even arrived, dispatchers had received multiple 911 calls about gunfire at the gathering.
When deputies pulled up at the remote residence, more than 150 people had already fled the scene. Inside they found two people fatally wounded: 49-year-old Jessie Locklear Jr. and 16-year-old Nehemiah Locklear, both from Lumberton. Authorities say the party drew “well over 300” people, with ages ranging from pre-teens to people in their 50s.
The investigation shows that a large number of people were wounded in the chaos: in total 13 people were shot, including the two who died. The injured victims’ ages span from about 17 to 43 years old; several are critically injured and one was airlifted to a hospital in Chapel Hill. Sheriff Burnis Wilkins condemned the violence, warning that the combination of alcohol, a large crowd and guns “regardless of age” had again resulted in tragic loss.
Investigators say the party had been promoted on social media as a “Dirt Road Halloween Party” and included the tag line “FREE PJ, BYOB, and leave ya drama with ya mama,” pulling a crowd far larger than the host neighborhood or permit system anticipated. According to law enforcement, multiple guns were fired during a confrontation between groups at the event. No arrests have been announced yet, though authorities say persons of interest have been identified.
The scene at the residence was described as chaotic—with overturned tables, abandoned vehicles and debris left behind when the crowd fled. Victims were transported to nearby hospitals, including Scotland Health Care in Laurinburg and UNC Health Southeastern Medical Center in Lumberton. Early Saturday afternoon, the sheriff’s office said this appeared to be an isolated incident and that the wider community was not at risk.
Sheriff Wilkins emphasized that community cooperation is vital. “When you have this many people, some are cooperating, some are not—which is sadly common,” he said, noting the county has faced similar unsolved cases before. Anyone with information or video of the party is asked to contact the Robeson County Sheriff’s investigators at 910-671-3100 or via email.
As the community reels from the shock of what should have been a festive night, the message is clear: gathering large numbers of young people, with alcohol and without proper oversight, creates dangerous conditions. The investigation into what exactly sparked the fatal confrontation is ongoing, but the heartbreak of losing a young life and a father, and of hospitalising so many others, has already left its mark on this small county.