Three ECU Football Players Suspended After Firearm Incident Involving Emergency Response Team
Three East Carolina football players have been suspended indefinitely following a serious off-field incident involving gunfire early Sunday morning in Greenville.
Senior defensive end J.D. Lampley, redshirt junior defensive tackle Preston Carr, and redshirt junior wide receiver Brock Spalding have each been charged with discharging a firearm within city limits, according to the Greenville Police Department. Spalding faces an additional charge for resisting, delaying, and obstructing a public officer.
The situation occurred just before 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, July 20, when officers responded to a shots fired call at a residence located at 218 Locust Drive. While responding, officers reportedly heard additional gunfire nearby. Upon arriving at the scene, two individuals were located outside the residence and admitted to discharging a firearm. A third person remained inside, initially refusing to cooperate with officers' attempts to make contact. A small unit from the department’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) was called in and assisted in safely resolving the situation.
According to the official police report, obtained by Hoist The Colours of 247 Sports, “"Upon arrival, officers made contact with two individuals outside the residence, both of whom admitted to discharging a firearm. A third individual remained inside and initially refused to exit or respond to officers' attempts to make contact. A small element from the department's Emergency Response Team (ERT) responded and helped bring the situation to a safe resolution." ECU has since suspended all three players from team activities as the university and athletic department continue to gather information and evaluate next steps.”
Key Player Profiles
J.D. Lampley, 21, is one of ECU’s most experienced and productive defenders. The Rockingham, N.C. native and Richmond High School graduate has played in 36 games, totaling 54 tackles and 12.5 tackles for loss over his career. In 2025, he led the team with 39 quarterback pressures and logged 437 snaps, making him a vital piece of the Pirates’ defensive front heading into the fall.
Preston Carr, 22, has quietly developed within the program since arriving as a walk-on in 2022. He appeared in two games during the 2024 season and had been working his way into the rotation at defensive tackle, with potential to contribute heavily this season.
Brock Spalding, 21, has been a consistent contributor on offense and special teams. Across 22 career appearances, he’s worked as both a receiver and punt returner. Last season, he posted five receptions for 71 yards before suffering a season-ending knee injury at Army. He was limited throughout spring ball during his recovery. Spalding had recently earned recognition as a Phil Steele Preseason All-AAC Third Team punt returner.