Jailhouse interview: Inmate admits he shot man accused of beating pregnant woman on Easter

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Quaneik Allen, 20, is sitting in the New Hanover County Jail, admitting that on Easter Sunday he shot a man five times. The man Allen admits to shooting was seen beating a pregnant woman in a video that has been viewed thousands of times online.

“Dude was out there fighting a pregnant woman, and I went out to see what was going on and he approached me with a gun and tried to take my gun,” Allen said in a jailhouse interview.

Allen said he heard commotion in the Houston Moore housing complex near 15th and Greenfield streets, so he walked up to see what was going on.

“There was all this screaming and yelling, but before I could even ask what was going on, he had his gun out,” Allen said.

Allen said the two got into a scuffle and the other man tried to take his gun out of his pants. That’s when Allen said he picked up the man’s gun and shot him five times before running into the woods.

Wilmington police found Allen a short time later and charged him with assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Police responded to the scene after ShotSpotter triggered a notification just after noon on Sunday. Officers were told the man was already at the hospital.

Police have identified the man who was shot as 30-year-old Antonio Spencer. He is in stable condition at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

According to police, Spencer is the man in this video grabbing, punching and kicking a pregnant woman moments before the shooting.

Allen said he knew Spencer and thought they were on good terms. He went on to explain he is acquaintances with the pregnant woman in the video.

The woman did not want to be identified, but did tell WECT Monday morning she has been released from the hospital and her baby was unharmed.

“I was cool with him. I don’t know what people got going on these days or why he was tripping,” Allen said. “I’m pretty sure we could have handled it differently, but that man tried to take my life so I had to defend myself.”

Allen said he does not regret his actions.

“He was hitting a pregnant woman, then he had a gun on me, so it’s my life or his life, and I’d rather be ahead than dead,” Allen said.

Allen’s bond is $250,000. Police say they are still investigating the assault on the pregnant female. Spencer has not been charged with any crimes at this time.

Sunday’s shooting was one of three over the weekend.

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