In Gaston County, North Carolina, a few children were innocently playing basketball when their ball rolled into a neighbor’s backyard. Hoping to retrieve it, some of them entered the man’s yard, only to be met with his bloody rage and a gruesome tragedy.
Kinsley White and a few of her friends were playing basketball on Tuesday, April 18, in Gaston County, North Carolina when the ball slipped and rolled down the road. They just wanted to retrieve it from Robert Singletary’s yard, but the man wasn’t happy with this apparent infraction.
Reports indicate that after the ball entered his yard, Singletary came blustering out of his home, waving a gun around. He ran down the street, firing his weapon at one of the White family’s neighbors, forcing everyone to head for their homes. But not everyone made it safely back before Singletary returned.
On his way back, Singletary set his sights on the 6-year-old Kinsley and her father, William White. As William raced to grab his little daughter, shots rang out from behind him, and one bullet grazed Kinsley’s cheek. Scrambling to get his child to safety, one wildly fired projectile struck the father solidly in the back.
Kinsley responded to the horror incident, “Why did you shoot my daddy and me? Why did you shoot a kid’s dad?”
After the shootout, Singletary fled the scene, and the Gaston County Police Department alerted the local community to the event via social media. At the same time, the U.S. Marshalls sent out a warrant for his arrest and apprehended the suspect a few days later, on Thursday, April 20, 2023.
Kinsley’s Family under Fire
Besides Kinsley, William’s wife, Ashley Hilderbrand, was also wounded in the shootout. A stray bullet had grazed the mom’s elbow, and Kinsley and Ashley were taken to the hospital soon after. They were treated and luckily soon released.
Kinsley and her family reported that they weren’t even part of the basketball game — they were merely grilling in their yard while Kinsley was riding her bike on the street.
Ashley’s husband, William, wasn’t as lucky. Family members reported that the brave father tried to draw the 24-year-old Singletary’s aim toward himself in order to protect his little girl. Although Kinsley was scraped, it could have been much worse if William hadn’t stepped in.
Ashley Hildebrand, 2023, in Gasotn County, North Carolina | Source: youtube.com/@QueenCityNews
The father was hit in the back as he tried to get his daughter to safety and was taken to Charlotte Hospital as soon as possible. Although his family was released, William was seriously injured and remained in the care of the hospital staff. No updates on his condition have been shared except that he is recovering slowly and enduring much pain.
Responding to the horrific incident during an interview, Kinsley directed a question to Singletary: “Why did you shoot my daddy and me? Why did you shoot a kid’s dad?”
Ashley’s mother, Carolyn Hilderbrand, believes the only reason Singletary stopped firing was that he had run out of ammunition. She sincerely thinks he would have gone for the rest of the family as well.
Although little Kinsley only had to get a few stitches after the shootout, she and her mother were left with much to worry about. The little girl reported they had never even met the man before. Other residents of the street confirmed that Singletary was new to the community and had already been aggressive toward some of the kids.
Neighbors recounted the events to the press, and one person confessed that the situation caught them all entirely off-guard. The resident noted that no one expected a gun to be pulled amid the gathered children. The resident spoke out in disbelief, saying, “I mean that was insane.”
The Aftermath
A number of residents indicated that Robert had yelled at their children when they went to fetch their ball from his yard. Apparently, one dad went up to the suspect and told him off for “cussing [his] kid out,” telling him to rather speak to the children’s parents so they could work the issue out as adults.
Singletary was released on a $250,000 bond on December 15, according to state records.
Shortly after the altercation, Singletary came out with a firearm in his hand. Kinsley and her family reported that they weren’t even part of the basketball game — they were merely grilling in their yard while Kinsley was riding her bike on the street. According to CNN, this is the latest case of gun violence toward young people for common errors.
Robert Singletary, 2023 | Source: youtube.com/@QueenCityNews
Singletary fled the scene after attacking his neighbors, prompting authorities to start a manhunt for the suspect. After a lengthy search, police finally found Singletary two days later. The man had made his way all the way to Hillsborough County, Florida, where he is being held until further notice, according to a spokesperson.
Although Singletary had his weapon with him throughout the entire chase, he eventually turned himself in. He had no form of identification on him, and his identity was only later confirmed. According to police reports, he has a history of violence, having been arrested for allegedly assaulting and keeping his girlfriend in his apartment in December 2022.
Singletary was released on a $250,000 bond on December 15, according to state records. Police indicated that the suspect would be tried for four counts of attempted first-degree murder, two for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and one for possession of a firearm by a felon.
Kinsley White, in Gaston County, North Carolina, 2023 | Source: youtube.com/@QueenCityNews
Home of Robert Singletary, in Gaston County, North Carolina, 2023 | Source: youtube.com/@QueenCityNews
Following the brutal shootout, the White family racked up numerous expensive bills to pay for William, Kinsley, and Ashley’s healthcare. William’s sister, Jessica White, shared in the description of a GoFundMe campaign that Kinsley and some of her family members have been attending therapy to work through their trauma.
Jessica also shared that William is unable to attend work, and his absence will hit the family hard financially. She started the GoFundMe campaign in a bid to pay off their medical bills and support the traumatized family. She ensured, “Everything donated is appreciated and will be used towards these kids and bills.”
For more like this, click here. Read about a woman who heard chilling screams from a daycare and realized it was her daughter.
In a tragic turn of events at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade, a beacon of the community was lost. The event has sent shockwaves through the community.
Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a cherished mother of two and fan of football, was the victim of a senseless shooting that brought sudden grief to the festive atmosphere at the end of the Chiefs’ parade in Kansas City, Missouri. She suffered a gunshot wound to her abdomen and later succumbed to her injuries during surgery.
A valued member of the Kansas City community, Lopez-Galvan was known not just as a mother, but also as a vibrant local DJ hosting “A Taste of Tejano” on KKFI 90.1 FM. The station mourned the loss, stating, “It is with sincere sadness and an extremely heavy and broken heart that we let our community know that KKFI DJ Lisa Lopez, host of ‘Taste of Tejano’ lost her life today in the shooting at the KC Chiefs’ rally.”
The statement from KKFI 90.1 FM further implored, “Our hearts and prayers are with her family. We encourage anyone who feels they saw something to reach out to law enforcement at 816 234 5111. This senseless act has taken a beautiful person from her family and this KC Community.”
Her friends echoed the station’s sentiments, one of them, also named Lisa Lopez but with no relation, shared her thoughts with The Kansas City Star, “She was the most wonderful, beautiful person,” and fondly remembered her impact, “She [DJed] everybody’s weddings. We all know her. She was so full of life.”
In the wake of the tragedy, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas expressed his sorrow and recounted how he almost brought his young son to the parade, highlighting the arbitrary cruelty of the violence that ensued. According to reports, the shooting resulted in one fatality and 21 injuries.
An active investigation is ongoing, with authorities having secured the scene at Union Station where the shooting erupted right after the Chiefs’ celebratory rally. Chief Graves stated that three individuals had been detained and were under investigation concerning the incident.
The Kansas City Chiefs, whose victory was the reason for the parade, assured in a statement that all players and their families were safe. Yet the community is left to grapple with the reality of violence piercing a moment of collective joy.
On social media, the outpouring of grief for Lopez-Galvan was immediate and heartfelt. “This breaks my heart so bad,” a comment read, reflecting the collective sorrow felt by many. The ‘A Taste of Tejano’ Facebook page shared a conversation Lopez-Galvan had before she passed, marking a stark reminder of the abruptness of her passing.
Lopez-Galvan’s last Facebook post invited her audience to tune into her radio show, saying, “Don’t forget to tune in tonight to A Taste of Tejano from 8pm to 10pm! Let us know if you have a birthday, anniversary or special announcement!” unaware of the events that were forthcoming.
Her life and career, so deeply intertwined with her community, were celebrated by many. As the community mourns, they also celebrate the life of a woman who brought music, joy, and companionship to so many.
Unfortunately, this is not the only case of a person sustaining a gunshot wound. A man sustained one when he tried to save his daughter. Read the full story here.