Wallace man charged after downtown Wilmington parking deck shooting

Rafael Martinez, 22, faces felony assault charges for allegedly shooting 26-year-old David Corpus

Mar. 11, 2026 at 6:04am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A 22-year-old man from Wallace, North Carolina has been charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly shooting another man inside a downtown Wilmington parking deck early Sunday morning. The victim, 26-year-old David Corpus, was seriously injured in the incident and transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Why it matters

Violent crimes like this shooting in a public parking facility raise concerns about public safety in downtown Wilmington, a hub for dining, entertainment, and commerce. The incident also comes amid heightened scrutiny of a separate officer-involved shooting that occurred nearby during the police response.

The details

According to the Wilmington Police Department, Rafael Martinez was charged with Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill, Inflicting Serious Injury, following an investigation by the WPD Criminal Investigation Division. Martinez allegedly shot Corpus in a parking deck in the 100 block of Market Street. Corpus was transported to Novant Health NHRMC with serious injuries.

  • The shooting occurred early Sunday morning in downtown Wilmington.

The players

Rafael Martinez

A 22-year-old man from Wallace, North Carolina who has been charged with felony assault for allegedly shooting another man in a downtown Wilmington parking deck.

David Corpus

A 26-year-old man who was seriously injured in the shooting and transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Edilberto Espinoza-Sierra

A 21-year-old man who was killed by police during the response to the shooting incident. His death remains under investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to grant bail for Rafael Martinez.

The takeaway

This shooting incident in a downtown Wilmington parking deck highlights ongoing public safety concerns in the area, as well as the need for thorough investigations into any use of force by law enforcement in response to such events.