Robbery-Shooting at a Fayetteville Underground Sweepstakes-Gambling Operation

An early morning shooting took place around 2:30 a.m. on August 14, 2013 at a Cumberland County sweepstakes and underground gambling location resulting in two males sustaining gunshot wounds. Cumberland County sheriff’s deputies responded to a call reporting that shots had been fired at a gambling operation located at 4557 Cumberland Rd., in Fayetteville

Witnesses reported to investigators from the sheriff’s office that apparently a robbery at gunpoint was attempted at the underground gambling establishment and as a result the two men suffered gunshot wounds. The wounded men were transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center for treatment and, ultimately, for surgery for the wounds. At last report both victims were in the intensive care unit at the hospital.

Sheriff Earl “Moose” Butler stated that these video gaming and sweepstakes operations have attempted to continue to operate in Cumberland County, and they have also moved into residential communities and even individual homes in an effort to hide from law enforcement and from law-abiding citizens.  “I am very concerned about robberies, other crimes of violence, and other criminal activity associated with these illegal gambling operations, and we will continue to investigate the operations and any illegal activity associated with them, particularly, robberies or the illegal use of firearms.” 

Prior to this incident, Cumberland County sheriff’s deputies had been engaged in a continuing investigation of illegal gambling-sweepstakes operations.  At the time that the deputies responded to the Cumberland Road shooting, the deputies seized four illegal video gambling devices and other paraphernalia as well as evidence related to the robbery and shooting.

Sheriff  Butler added, “Law enforcement officers need the help of law abiding citizens in reporting any information that they may have about this robbery, these shootings or any other illegal gambling establishments.”