Montreal Holmes, a 28-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on February 5, 2017, in Wilmington, North Carolina. Holmes was one of two men shot during a house party at 515 S. Ninth St. He and an unidentified 34-year-old victim were taken to New Hanover Regional Medical Center, where Holmes was pronounced dead. The other victim was treated for non-life-threatening but serious injuries.
The investigation into Holmes' death led to the arrest of William Shemont Springer, a
32-year-old male from Wilmington. Springer was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and possession of a firearm by a felon. He was arrested by the Wilmington Police Department and U.S. Marshals on Emory Street and held in the New Hanover County jail without bail. Springer had prior convictions of common law robbery and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.
In 2019, charges against Springer in connection to the murder of Montreal Holmes were dismissed. The dismissal of charges was related to the attempted murder of Dominique Gray during an early-morning altercation at an unlicensed, after-hours club at 515 S. Ninth St. The case remains a significant event in Wilmington's history, highlighting the ongoing challenges of addressing gun violence and ensuring justice for victims and their families.
