On October 20, 2023, at approximately 8:47 p.m., the Granville County Sheriff's Office responded to a shooting incident on Southern Court in Oxford, North Carolina. Upon arrival, deputies discovered two individuals with gunshot wounds: 44-year-old Malinda Drumgold Anderson, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and a 20-year-old man who sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Investigations revealed that the residence had been struck by multiple gunshots. Granville County Sheriff Robert Fountain Jr. indicated that more than three firearms were involved, suggesting the presence of multiple shooters. He also stated that Anderson was likely not the intended target, describing the situation as "wrong place, wrong time," and speculated that the perpetrators might have targeted the wrong location.
As of November 22, 2023, no arrests had been made in connection with Anderson's death. The Granville County Sheriff's Office continued to seek information leading to the identification and apprehension of the suspects, offering a $10,000 reward through Granville County Crime Stoppers. Sheriff Fountain emphasized the importance of a thorough investigation, noting the use of GPS tracking, cell tower data, and awaiting information from various cell phone carriers to build a solid case.
In a related development, authorities were investigating potential connections between Anderson's shooting and another fatal incident that occurred earlier on October 20 within Oxford city limits. In that case, 18-year-old Damerion Green was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Darius Jordan, who was shot on Raleigh Street and succumbed to his injuries the following day. Sheriff Fountain mentioned a possible nexus between the two shootings, suggesting they might be retaliatory acts, though details remained unclear.
Anderson's mother, Queen Wilson, described her daughter as a sweet and pleasant person who loved children and had been dealing with health issues that kept her mostly at home. Wilson expressed profound grief and a desire for justice, stating, "I pray that justice will be done for her one day, because she didn’t deserve to leave this world like that."
The investigation into Anderson's death remained active, with authorities urging anyone with information to contact the Granville County Sheriff's Office or Crime Stoppers to assist in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
