BREAKING: Multiple agencies searching for potential drowning victim in Kinston

Several agencies — including the Kinston Fire Department, Kinston Police Department, Lenoir County Emergency Services, North Lenoir Volunteer Fire Department and Southwood Fire Department — have been looking for a potential drowning victim in Kinston this afternoon.

An eyewitness on the bank of the Neuse River behind the Family Dollar, 400 E. New Bern Road, Kinston, told officials he saw a woman along the bank of the river reach into the water to grab a bag. After watching her do that, he didn’t see her re-emerge from the river and, after going into the store, called officials to report what he’d seen.

“He saw her perform a swimming motion towards what he thinks was a bag,” City of Kinston Fire Chief Damien Locklear. “He identified the woman as white but was uncertain of her age. He couldn’t really describe what she was wearing because he could only see her from the waist up.”

The only other identifying feature was that the woman had short hair, according to the eyewitness.

The above-named agencies responded to the scene shortly after the call was received at 1:50 p.m.

“(The witness) didn’t see her get out of the water safely and that is why we were out here to help,” Locklear said.

Searches were performed by the above-named agencies including rescue boats and sonar from the NLVFD and visual bank searches by the other agencies.

The search was suspended at 4 p.m. by all agencies due to not having enough evidence for a missing person report. If anyone has more information about this incident, call 252-559-6118.

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