CONCORD, N.C. — The man shot inside a local movie theater is speaking out for the first time.
The shooting caused a chaotic scene at the AMC theater in Concord mills around 6 p.m. on Sunday. Investigators say it started because of a dispute over seats, but now, the victim says there was no argument.
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The victim, William Weldon, took his story to Facebook after being treated and released from the hospital. In a Facebook live video, Weldon said he wants to clear things up about what led up to the shooting.
“There was never an argument, there was never an altercation between me and this guy, I never disrespected him in any kind of way,” Weldon said in the video.
Instead, Weldon described simply reaching for proof of his seats moments before the gunman pulled out a pistol. He says the suspect and a woman were in the seats assigned to Weldon and his mother.
“I was like, ‘Hey you are in our seats’, I showed him our receipt, I proved it to him. And the girl tried to get him up,” Weldon said.
However, Weldon said the suspect refused to move.
After Weldon talked about bringing the issue to an employee, he says the situation turned violent.
“That guy was young and he was itching to you use his pistol, he was itching to use it, he needed any little excuse,” Weldon said.
NBC Charlotte has reported on violent crimes at Concord Mills in the past. Last August, a man was carjacked in a parking lot. Before that, a fight at the food court led to false reports of shots fired.
Fortunately, Weldon lived to tell his story, as painful as it is.
“I’m bleeding all over the place, I’m in serious pain,” Weldon described in the video.
Concord Police say they have arrested the person responsible for shooting Weldon. Bryant Gregory Eaves Jr., 18, was taken into custody at his home in Indian Land, South Carolina.
Eaves was charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill. He's being held in the Lancaster County Detention Center.
Concord Police is asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has any other information to call 704-920-5000.
NBC Charlotte also reached out to Concord Mills Mall. A spokesperson said because it’s an ongoing police matter, any further comments would have to come from police.
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