Concord Shooting During Christmas Tree Lighting Leaves Four Hospitalized, Two Suspects Identified as Shooters

A night meant for carols, hot cocoa, and the glow of a giant Christmas tree turned into a nightmare when the City of Concord Tree Lighting Ceremony in downtown Concord, North Carolina was shattered by gunfire on Friday, November 21, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. Four people were shot — three remain in critical condition — and police now say this wasn’t random. It was personal. Two of the victims? They’re also the shooters. The twist? One of them is still fighting for his life in the hospital, while another teen was arrested right after the chaos. The Concord Police Department has identified all four individuals involved. And they’re telling the public: this wasn’t about the crowd. It was about something far darker brewing beneath the surface of this tight-knit community.

What Happened During the Ceremony?

Thousands had gathered near the historic Cabarrus County Courthouse for the annual holiday tradition. Families huddled under string lights. Children clapped as the tree sparkled to life. Then — silence. Followed by seven or eight sharp cracks that cut through the music. One witness, a mother holding her daughter’s hand, thought it was fireworks. Until she saw people drop. "I thought the fireworks went off," she told officers. "My daughter thought the fireworks went off. And here it was 7 or 8 rounds of gunshots."

The Concord Police Department acted fast. Downtown businesses locked doors. Bystanders pulled victims to safety. First responders arrived within minutes. By 7:45 p.m., the scene was secured. All four victims were rushed to Atrium Health Cabarrus, the county’s primary trauma center. Two were discharged within 24 hours. Two — including one of the shooters — remain in critical condition.

The Suspects: Family Ties and Fatal Mistakes

Here’s where it gets chilling: the shooters are connected. Eighteen-year-old Nasir Ahmad Bostic, known locally as Nazir, was identified as the first shooter. He was struck by gunfire during the incident and is now hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. Police issued arrest warrants for assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill (N.C.G.S. 14-32(a)) and inciting a riot (N.C.G.S. 14-288.2). Warrants will be served once he’s medically cleared.

His 17-year-old cousin, Kevyn Rashaw Bostic, was charged as an accessory. He wasn’t shot. He didn’t flee. He was arrested within an hour near the intersection of Church and Union Streets. Police say he drove the getaway vehicle — a dark sedan spotted by multiple witnesses — and helped the shooters escape before turning himself in.

The second shooter? Another 17-year-old, whose name hasn’t been released due to juvenile status. He was also wounded during the exchange. The fourth victim — also 17 — was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire. He remains in critical condition.

"This wasn’t a crowd attack," said Concord Police Chief Jimmy Hughes during a press briefing on November 22. "It was a targeted confrontation between people who knew each other. The fact that it happened here — during this event — is what makes it so devastating. But the intent? It wasn’t directed at us. It was directed at each other."

Why This Matters to Concord

Concord, population 110,000, is a quiet suburb just north of Charlotte. It’s the kind of place where kids ride bikes to the courthouse square for the tree lighting. Where neighbors know each other’s names. Where gun violence is rare — especially in broad daylight at a holiday event. This isn’t Charlotte. It’s not Atlanta. It’s not a big-city crime statistic.

But the signs were there. In the past year, the Concord Police Department reported a 23% increase in juvenile gun-related incidents in Cabarrus County. Two teens were arrested in August for carrying unlicensed firearms near a local middle school. Another was charged in October for threatening a classmate with a handgun.

"We’ve seen this brewing," said Dr. Lena Mitchell, a community psychologist who works with at-risk youth in Concord. "There’s a silence around these kids. They’re not getting help. The systems are stretched thin. When you’ve got two cousins, both 17 and 18, both carrying guns, and one of them walks into a public celebration — something broke long before the shots were fired."

What’s Next?

The Concord Police Department is now reviewing over 120 hours of security footage from nearby businesses. They’ve also asked the public for any photos or videos taken during the ceremony. The evidence portal — concordpdnc.evidence.com — has received more than 80 submissions since Friday. Shell casings from seven rounds have been collected. Ballistics testing is underway.

Meanwhile, the city is planning a community vigil for November 29 — not as a memorial, but as a statement. "We won’t let fear silence our holiday," said Mayor Carol Hester. "This event is ours. And we’re taking it back."

As for Nasir Bostic, police say his medical team expects him to survive — but not before facing charges. Kevyn Bostic is in juvenile detention. The second shooter, still hospitalized, will be transferred to a secure facility once stable. The fourth victim? His family is asking for privacy. But they’re not asking for justice quietly.

Background: A Tradition Interrupted

The City of Concord Tree Lighting Ceremony has been held since 1987. It’s one of the few events in Cabarrus County that draws crowds from both Concord and neighboring Kannapolis. The tree, a 60-foot evergreen, is donated annually by a local family. The lighting is accompanied by caroling, hot cider, and visits from Santa. In 2024, over 15,000 people attended.

This year, attendance was estimated at 12,000. The ceremony ended not with applause, but with sirens. And now, the community is left asking: how did this happen here? And more importantly — how do we stop it from happening again?