Kristian Ferrell
In April 2023, 24-year-old Robert Louis Singletary was arrested in Tampa, Florida, and charged with multiple felony counts, including four counts of attempted first-degree murder, after allegedly shooting at his neighbors—including a 6-year-old girl—in North Carolina. The incident occurred when a group of children were playing basketball and their ball rolled into Singletary's yard.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Shooter | Robert Louis Singletary |
| Age of Shooter | 24 |
| Location | Gastonia, North Carolina |
| Victims | Kinsley White (6-year-old girl), her father Jamie White, her mother, and another neighbor |
| Date of Incident | Tuesday, April 18, 2023 |
| Time of Incident | Shortly before 8 pm |
| Charges | Four counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and inflicting serious injury, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon |
| Status | In custody in Hillsborough County, Florida; Signed an extradition waiver to be extradited to North Carolina |
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What You'll Learn
- The shooter, Robert Louis Singletary, was arrested in Florida
- The 6-year-old girl, Kinsley White, was shot in the cheek
- Kinsley's father, Jamie/William White, was shot in the back
- The shooting occurred after the ball rolled into Singletary's yard
- Singletary faces four counts of attempted first-degree murder
The shooter, Robert Louis Singletary, was arrested in Florida
Singletary is accused of shooting his six-year-old neighbour, Kinsley White, and her parents, William and Ashley Hilderbrand, after a basketball with which the child was playing rolled into his yard. The incident took place on Tuesday night in Gaston County, North Carolina, a city about 20 miles west of Charlotte. Singletary, who had a history of yelling at children in the neighbourhood, went inside his home, retrieved a gun, and began shooting as parents frantically tried to get their kids to safety.
Kinsley White was seriously injured in the incident and had to receive stitches from bullet fragments lodged in her cheek. Her father, William White, was shot in the back and remained hospitalized with serious wounds, including a punctured lung and liver damage. Another man, believed to be Jamie White, was also shot at but not injured. Ashley Hilderbrand, Kinsley's mother, was grazed by a bullet. Singletary is also accused of firing shots at another man, believed to be Carl or Jonathan Robertson, but missing.
Singletary is facing four counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill and inflicting serious injury, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. He had previously been out on bond after being charged with attacking a woman with a sledgehammer.
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The 6-year-old girl, Kinsley White, was shot in the cheek
Kinsley and her family were not the only victims of this tragic incident. Another neighbour was also shot at but fortunately escaped unharmed. The community was left shaken, with one neighbour, Hailey Martin, expressing her sadness at seeing "little kids scatter, running for their lives" in what had always been a peaceful neighbourhood.
The shooting occurred when a basketball that Kinsley and other children were playing with rolled into Singletary's yard. He had previously been known to yell at children who entered his yard and, in this instance, he ran down the street firing a gun. Singletary then approached Kinsley and her father, William James White, and shot them both at close range.
Kinsley was treated in hospital and released, but her father remained hospitalized with serious wounds, including liver damage. In the aftermath of the shooting, Kinsley described her experience to reporters, saying, "I couldn't get inside in time so he shot my daddy in the back."
The Gaston County Police Chief, Stephen Zill, spoke out strongly against the violence, stating, "I want to say to the people of Gaston County—this sort of violence will not stand." The community was left reeling from the senseless act, and Singletary's arrest brought some measure of relief.
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Kinsley's father, Jamie/William White, was shot in the back
In April 2023, a tragic incident unfolded in a neighbourhood in North Carolina, when a young girl, 6-year-old Kinsley White, was shot along with her father, Jamie/William White, and several others. The shooting occurred when a group of children were playing basketball, and the ball accidentally rolled into the yard of their neighbour, 24-year-old Robert Louis Singletary.
Singletary had a history of yelling at children who entered his yard and, on this occasion, he reacted violently. He ran down the street, firing at a neighbour, before turning his gun on Kinsley White, who was playing in her yard. Singletary shot Kinsley in the face, causing her to suffer a bullet graze on her left cheek.
Upon witnessing his daughter being shot, Jamie/William White, ran to her aid. In a devastating turn of events, Singletary then shot Kinsley's father in the back, leaving him with serious wounds, including liver damage. The grandfather of the family, Carl Hilderbrand, also suffered a bullet graze on his elbow.
The shooting sparked chaos in the neighbourhood, with children and parents running for safety. Singletary was arrested a few days later in Tampa, Florida and is facing multiple felony counts, including attempted first-degree murder and possession of a firearm.
Kinsley's father, Jamie/William White, was left with severe injuries from being shot in the back. The full extent of his recovery is not publicly known, but the incident has undoubtedly had a profound impact on the family and the community. The shooting has brought attention to issues of gun violence and the tragic consequences that can arise from seemingly trivial disputes.
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The shooting occurred after the ball rolled into Singletary's yard
A tragic shooting incident in North Carolina left a 6-year-old girl, Kinsley White, and her parents wounded. The shooting occurred after the ball rolled into Singletary's yard while the children were playing basketball. The suspect, 24-year-old Robert Louis Singletary, had previously yelled at the children on several occasions. On this fateful night, Singletary went inside his home, emerged with a gun, and started shooting indiscriminately.
Kinsley White, the 6-year-old girl, was grazed by a bullet in her left cheek and was treated at a hospital. She has since bravely spoken out about the shooting in an interview with a local news channel. Her father, Jamie White, who had rushed to her aid, was shot in the back and suffered serious wounds, including liver damage. He remained hospitalized for several days following the incident.
The shooting sparked outrage and concern among the community, with neighbors expressing their shock and disbelief. Jonathan Robertson, a neighbor, described the events, stating that Singletary had gone inside his home and then returned with a gun, firing indiscriminately as parents scrambled to get their children to safety. Robertson recalled yelling at everyone to get down and take cover.
Following the shooting, Singletary fled the state and was arrested near Tampa, Florida, two days later. He faces four counts of first-degree attempted murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. The Gaston County Police Chief, Stephen Zill, declined to comment on the specific motive for the shooting. However, Singletary had a prior record, as he was known to the police for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend with a sledgehammer in December.
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Singletary faces four counts of attempted first-degree murder
In April 2023, a 6-year-old girl, Kinsley White, was shot in the face by 24-year-old Robert Louis Singletary after a basketball she was playing with rolled into his yard in North Carolina. Singletary, who had previously yelled at children on several occasions, went inside his home, came back out with a gun, and began shooting as parents frantically tried to get their kids to safety. Kinsley's father, Jamie White, who had run to her aid, was shot in the back and remained hospitalized with serious wounds, including liver damage. The girl's mother, William White, was also grazed by a bullet in the elbow.
Singletary was arrested in Tampa, Florida, and faces four counts of attempted first-degree murder and other charges. Gaston County Police Chief Stephen Zill said at a news conference that Singletary was wanted in Tuesday's shootings on four counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Singletary was out on bond for a December attack in which he assaulted a woman with a hammer.
Singletary's actions have sparked outrage and concern, with Police Chief Zill stating that "this sort of violence will not stand" in Gaston County. The shooting is part of a string of recent shootings sparked by seemingly trivial reasons. The incident has also raised questions about gun control and the protection of children and families in their own neighborhoods.
The shooting has had a significant impact on the victims and the community. Kinsley White, the 6-year-old girl who was shot, spoke out about the incident, asking, "Why did you shoot my daddy and me?" The community in Gaston County has also been affected, with neighbors expressing shock and disbelief that such an event could occur. Efforts are now focused on supporting the victims and their families and ensuring Singletary is held accountable for his actions.
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Frequently asked questions
The 5-year-old basketball shooter in question is actually 6 years old. Her name is Kinsley White and she was shot in the cheek by 24-year-old Robert Louis Singletary, a neighbour, after a basketball she was playing with rolled into his yard.
Yes, Kinsley's father, Jamie White, was shot in the back after running to his daughter's aid. He was hospitalized with serious wounds, including liver damage. Kinsley's mother was also grazed by a bullet.
Singletary was arrested on Thursday afternoon near Tampa, Florida, after a manhunt. He faces multiple felony counts, including four counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
The shooting occurred in a neighbourhood outside of Gastonia, North Carolina, about 20 miles west of Charlotte.
Yes, neighbours reported that Singletary had yelled at and complained about children playing in his yard on several occasions since moving into the neighbourhood. He was described as having a particular issue with kids and toys being on his property.
