Hundreds of teens took over a church parking lot at 2 a.m. Then came the gunfire.

What happened

Around 2 a.m. on Sunday, October 18, 2026 (late Saturday night), a large crowd took over the parking lot of Faith City Church in Huntersville, North Carolina, according to the church. Surveillance video the church gave WSOC-TV shows cars doing burnouts, people standing on signs, and flashes and the sound of gunshots. People in the lot ran for cover, WBTV reported.

Bishop Amere May told WBTV he believes 300 to 400 young people were there, mostly teenagers. He said shell casings were left on the ground, windows were damaged, and a fence post was knocked down to get into the lot. He said it was the third or fourth after-hours takeover on church property, and the second in about a week. No one was reported hurt. Police have not confirmed the church’s estimate of how many people were involved.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said North Division leaders met with the church and that the investigation is ongoing. As of WSOC’s report, it was unclear whether anyone had been charged. The church says it has license plate and facial recognition cameras and is sharing video with police. It is trying to raise $200,000 to $400,000 for an iron fence, and it has asked the city for barriers on the dead-end road next to the property, which the bishop said is a known spot for dumping and doing donuts.

What safety teams can take from it

• Your property is a target when the building is empty. Big, open parking lots are attractive for late-night “takeovers.” Walk your property at night once and look at it the way an outsider would.
• Control access to the lot. Gates, chains, bollards or a locked entrance after hours make it harder to get in. Reinforce weak spots like the fence that was knocked over here.
• Lights and cameras pay for themselves. Good lighting is a deterrent, and the church’s camera footage gave police and news crews something to work with. Check that your cameras cover the lot, record at night and can capture plates.
• Build a relationship with police before you need it. Ask for extra patrols, report every incident (even small ones) so there is a pattern on record, and post no-trespassing signs so officers can act.
• Never send members out to confront a crowd. If people with guns show up on your property, stay inside, call 911 and let officers handle it. Check the property in daylight and photograph any damage.