Anyone with videos of the shooting incident is urged to send them to Salisbury Police. Send videos as a private message to the Salisbury Police Department’s Facebook page; email them to the Rowan Regional Crime Information Center at rrcic@salisburync.gov; or call the criminal investigation division at 704-216-5262. You do not have to reveal your identity.
Police continue search for additional suspect from Livingstone shooting incident
Published 2:20 pm Tuesday, October 18, 2022
1 of 3
As Saturday's shooting on the campus of Livingstone College made national news, media crews from around the state were on hand for the joint press conference Tuesday between the city, the Salisbury and Livingstone police and the college to announce an arrest had been made. Captain P.J. Smith, Dr. Anthony Davis and Mayor Karen Alexander each spoke, and the police provided a mug shot of arrestee Talib Kelly and a description of a second suspect. Photo by John Carr
Salisbury Police Capt. P.J. Smith, left, and Livingstone College President Dr. Anthony Davis answered questions during a news conference at the police department Tuesday. Davis called the joint news conference 'historic' and expressed appreciation for the community and police support. Photo by John Carr/Salisbury Post
Talib Latrelle Kelly has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon by Salisbury police in connection with Saturday's shooting at Livingstone College,
By Elisabeth Strillacci
elisabeth.strillacci@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Police have charged one man in the shooting that occurred Saturday night on the campus of Livingstone College, but are asking for the public’s help in their search for a second suspect.
Police have charged 21-year-old Talib Latrell Kelly with first-degree attempted murder, discharging a firearm on educational property, and possession of a gun by a convicted felon in connection with a shooting at an Asian Doll concert on the campus. Kelly is not a student at the college.
Police have said they believe there was at least one other person involved in what started as an argument, and they provided a basic description of a man in a ski-type mask that covered most of his face, a red sweatshirt and dark pants.
In a joint press conference with Salisbury police, Livingstone College President Dr. Anthony Davis and Salisbury Mayor Karen Alexander reiterated that the city and the college believe the safety of residents and college students, staff and visitors is always a priority. Smith said that police firmly believe the incident presents no current threat to the campus.
Smith was somewhat limited in what he could divulge given the investigation remains open, but said the public’s help is invaluable. “The more people hold back on sharing what they know, the longer it takes us to resolve it,” he said.
Kelly was one of three people who suffered a gunshot wound in the incident, according to reports. The concert was the culmination of a week’s worth of homecoming activities. Although the extent of Kelly’s injuries have not been disclosed, he does remain at Novant Health Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, where he and another male who suffered a gunshot wound were taken Saturday night. In addition, police later discovered a woman had suffered a graze wound in the incident when she came forward to talk to police. She was offered medical care as well, but Smith said she already had a bandage on her neck. He was not sure if she went for further medical care. Initial reports also said at least two students were injured trying to get away from the shooting.
Information coming across the scanner Saturday night made it clear people were frightened, and there were reports of injuries along with panic attacks and trouble breathing. Smith and Davis both said they were unable to provide updates on any injuries but Smith did say no one received life-threatening injuries at the time of the incident.
Davis praised Salisbury police, emergency personnel and the college’s own police for their response, saying “everyone immediately came to help.”
All parties have made it clear from the start that the incident did not involve students. Kelly has a criminal history with both Salisbury police and Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, which arrested him as recently as Aug. 27 on charges of possession of a weapon of mass destruction.
According to information provided by the sheriff’s office, that department joined with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and the U.S. Marshal’s Service to conduct an operation targeting the residences of known and validated gang members on active probation. One of the locations searched was 345 South Oakhurst Drive, Salisbury, where Kelly was living.
Evidence was discovered during a probation search that led the sheriff’s office to obtain a full search warrant for the residence. During that search, investigators found a 9-millimeter “ghost gun,” with a full-auto switch on the back slide of the gun, allowing it to function as fully automatic, along with an AR-15 rifle.
Deputies said they also found a Chevrolet Impala in the backyard of the home that had numerous bullet holes in the driver’s side window and frame. The bullet holes appeared recent, according to investigators.
On Aug. 25, the sheriff’s office obtained warrants for Kelly’s arrest, charging him with possession of a weapon of mass destruction. On Aug. 27, Kelly was arrested and placed under a $10,000 secured bond.
In 2018, Kelly, who was then 17, was arrested and charged with felony involuntary manslaughter in the Thanksgiving day shooting death of Tyjuan Gibson, 19. Kelly apparently had a handgun while at the gathering and the gun “went off” according to reports. Kelly and another teenager drove Gibson to the hospital and dropped him off. Gibson died at the hospital.
Kelly was convicted in 2020 of involuntary manslaughter given 30 months of probation for the charges.
Despite noting that those involved in the shooting had “violated our sacred space” without concern for those on the campus, Davis made a point to say the college, though clearly rocked by the incident, is not shutting itself off.
“We are not closing the gates,” he said. “The welcome shingle will still be hanging out. We are resilient, resolved,” he said.
He noted that students leave behind sometimes difficult lives to come to Livingstone College, to make new and successful lives for themselves, and he does not want that to change, and is distressed that this kind of violence was brought onto the campus.
Counselors were available Tuesday afternoon to students, alumni and anyone attending the concert who felt in need of assistance.
Davis noted that “this is the first time in recent history, if ever, that Livingstone College has held a joint press conference with the Salisbury Police Department. I want to thank all of you who are standing with the ‘Stone – Livingstone Stone,” he said, naming Alexander and the city of Salisbury, the first responders, law enforcement agencies, and Catawba President Dr. David Nelson, who had to deal with an act of violence on his campus this past December when that college hosted a Christmas tournament and had a shooting occur. Davis had said on Sunday that he hoped the community would rally around the college and on Tuesday, he said he has been more than pleased to see the support the college has received.
The full press conference can be viewed on the Salisbury Post Facebook page here.
