The United States Marshals Service is now involved in the hunt for a man accused of shooting into a crowd at a Wilson birthday party and injuring four people.

According to the Wilson County Police Department, on Sunday around 12:30 a.m., Braulio Fuentes-Martinez, 18, came to a birthday party at the Wilson County Fairgrounds, at 2331 U.S. Highway 301, uninvited.

Other WRAL Top Stories

When guests asked him to leave, police said he went back to his car, grabbed a gun and fired into a crowd of people, injuring four of them.

After the shooting, Fuentes-Martinez attempted to escape in his vehicle and hit another person before hitting three cars and disabling his vehicle.

Fuentes-Martinez ran from the scene on foot, police said.

One person at the scene provided a photo of Fuentes-Martinez' car, which appeared to get stuck between two trucks while he attempted to drive off.

WRAL News spoke to a woman who was at the party and hid behind a car when the shooting started.

"All the cars started speeding through, leaving the party," said Marlene Castaneda. "I just remember the car just hitting the car I was standing behind. And from there my mind just went blank, I don't know what happened. I was just told by my friend, run!"

Castaneda had some cuts and bruises, but she is okay.

"I just heard four gunshots go off back to back, and I freaked out," Castaneda said. "I panicked. I didn't know what to do."

Shooter's car
The car appeared to get stuck between two trucks while trying to escape. Photo courtesy of Marlene Castaneda. (© WRAL)

Three of the shooting victims were transported to Wilson Medical Center and ECU Health Medical Center from the fairgrounds. Two of the victims are still in critical condition.

Castaneda believes Fuentes-Martinez should pay for what he did.

"What he did was unbelievable," Castaneda said. "He did cause a lot of pain to a lot of families."

The Nash County Sheriff's Office said Southern Nash High School, where Fuentes-Martinez is a senior, was placed under a soft lockdown Monday as a precaution. The soft lockdown officially lifted at 7 a.m. Tuesday, the district announced.

Officers issued warrants for Fuentes-Martinez for several counts of attempted first-degree murder.

The investigation is ongoing, according to police, and more charges are forthcoming.

The Wilson Police Department are asking anyone with information to the case to contact them at 252-399-2323 or Crime Stoppers at 252-2423-2255.