Muncie Facebook feud ends in shooting

MUNCIE — City police said a Facebook-related feud between two Muncie cousins resulted in one of the men being shot Monday.

Quincy Deshawn Stringer Sr., 30, of the 1100 block of South Franklin Street, was arrested about 5:30 p.m. on preliminary charges of intimidation and pointing a loaded firearm.

Authorities allege Stringer threatened his 34-year-old cousin, Albert Ellis III, with a 9-mm handgun, although another Muncie resident — Carletha Marie Wills, 22, of the 2500 block of North Elgin street — is accused of firing the gun, shooting Ellis in the left ankle.

She surrendered to police early Tuesday, and is preliminarily charged with battery with a deadly weapon.

According to police reports, Stringer and Ellis had been “feuding... over Facebook postings.” Ellis — who was treated for his gunshot wound at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital — said Stringer on Tuesday had been “following him around town,” prompting Ellis to eventually pull over near Waid and Macedonia avenues.

The cousins engaged angry words, and Ellis said he told Stringer they needed to “fight and settle their disagreement like men,” a police report said.

The shooting victim said Stringer produced a pink and white handgun, pointed it at him, and threatened to shoot him.

Ellis said as the men continued to exchange insults, a woman emerged from Stringer’s car, took the handgun and began firing shots at him. Police found four shell casings at the scene.

Stringer and Wills, meanwhile, maintained Stringer had never handled the weapon.

Stringer was being held in the Delaware County jail under a $10,000 bond, while Wills’ bond was set at $5,000.

Contact news reporter Douglas Walker at (765) 213-5851. You can also follow him on Twitter @DouglasWalkerSP.