A holiday tradition turned nightmare when gunfire erupted during the Concord Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, November 21, 2025, at approximately 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time in downtown Concord, North Carolina. Four people were struck by bullets — two of them the shooters themselves — as families watched a dance performance under festive lights. The event, now in its 97th year, was abruptly canceled. But the city didn’t stop there: the 97th annual Christmas parade went on as scheduled the next day, a quiet act of defiance in the face of senseless violence.

Who Was Involved? The Three Charged

A second shooter, a 17-year-old juvenile whose name has not been released, was also wounded and is in critical condition. The North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice has filed petitions against him for the same felony charges — plus two counts of discharging into an occupied property inflicting serious injury (N.C.G.S. 14-34.1). Juvenile cases in North Carolina are handled separately from adult courts, meaning his legal proceedings will unfold behind closed doors.

Then there’s Kevyn Rashaw Bostic, 17, who was not injured but allegedly helped the shooters flee. He was arrested within minutes of the shooting and charged as an accessory after the fact. Police say he drove one of the shooters away from the scene. His connection to Nasir Ahmad Bostic has not been confirmed, but the shared surname suggests a possible familial tie — a detail investigators are still exploring.

The Night It Happened

The shooting occurred during a high-energy dance performance at the heart of downtown Concord’s holiday festivities. Witnesses described a sudden burst of noise — not fireworks, not a firecracker — but the unmistakable crack of gunfire. People screamed. Children cried. Some dove behind benches. Others ran.

"I was holding my granddaughter’s hand," said one attendee, speaking anonymously. "One second, we were laughing. The next, she was crying, and I didn’t know if I’d ever see her again. That’s not how it’s supposed to end. Not here. Not tonight."

Emergency responders arrived within three minutes. Four victims were loaded into ambulances by 7:45 p.m. Two others — both 17-year-olds — were also shot, though neither was linked to the altercation. One has been discharged; the other remains in critical condition. That makes the total number of gunshot victims four — two shooters, two innocent bystanders.

"Not Random" — Police Chief’s Statement

Concord Police Chief Jimmy Hughes addressed the public on Saturday, November 22, 2025, with a tone both somber and resolute. "A night of celebration for our community was interrupted by senseless violence," he said. "But this was not a random act of violence directed at the public. It was between two suspects who are known to each other. We’ve accounted for all parties involved."

That distinction matters. In a country weary of mass shootings, the fact that this was targeted — not a random attack on strangers — offers little comfort to those who were there. It doesn’t make the trauma any less real. It just changes the narrative. This wasn’t an outsider. It was a local conflict that spilled into a public space.

Chief Hughes credited the public’s quick actions — businesses locking doors, neighbors helping each other, bystanders calling 911 — with preventing more casualties. "We were able to evacuate the area, prevent additional injuries, and identify all suspects involved," he added. "That’s community resilience in action."

The Ripple Effect

Concord, with a population of about 115,000 and located just 20 miles northeast of Charlotte, prides itself on its tight-knit traditions. The Tree Lighting Ceremony isn’t just about a tree. It’s about carolers, hot cocoa, Santa’s arrival, and generations of families gathering under the same lights year after year.

"That sense of safety was shattered tonight," said another attendee. "I don’t know if I’ll bring my kids back next year. How do you explain to a six-year-old that the place where you’ve always felt safe… isn’t?"

Local businesses are already feeling the impact. One downtown café reported a 40% drop in weekend traffic since the shooting. The Chamber of Commerce is planning a "Healing Lights" event for early December — a candlelight vigil with no speeches, just silence and solidarity.

What Comes Next?

The juvenile suspect’s case will be reviewed by a juvenile court judge in Cabarrus County, likely within the next 30 days. Nasir Ahmad Bostic’s charges will be upgraded to adult court once he’s discharged from the hospital — a process that could take weeks. Kevyn Rashaw Bostic is being held without bond.

Police say they’re still reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses and cell phone videos uploaded by attendees. One clip, posted to TikTok, shows a man in a dark hoodie firing a weapon near the stage — though the footage is grainy and the shooter’s face obscured.

What’s clear is this: violence doesn’t take holidays. But neither does community.

Background: A Tradition That Outlasted Generations

The Concord Tree Lighting Ceremony began in 1928, making it one of the oldest continuous holiday events in the Carolinas. It started with a single tree, a few carolers, and a handful of townsfolk. Today, it draws over 10,000 people, including school bands, local celebrities, and the mayor. It’s televised on local news. It’s featured in city brochures. It’s part of Concord’s identity.

There have been minor incidents over the decades — a stolen candy cane, a lost child, a drunk man stumbling into the crowd — but never anything like this. Not in 97 years.

"We’ve buried our parents here," said 72-year-old Margaret Ellis, who’s attended every ceremony since she was five. "We’ve brought our grandchildren here. Now, I wonder if I’ll ever come back."