WILSON, N.C. — Wilson police have arrested 24-year-old Desma Lamont Williams and charged him with murder in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred Thursday night.

Williams, of 1813 East Trail Drive in Wilson, was placed in the Wilson County Detention Center without bond pending a first court appearance on Friday.

The victim in the case, 17-year-old Julia Lenlesia Briggs, who lived on Sawdust Road, died Friday in Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville.

According to police, the shooting occurred shortly before 8 p.m. in the area of Aycock and Goldsboro Street. Williams reportedly had been in an argument and fired a gun, and the bullet struck Briggs -- who was walking in another part of the neighborhood and was not involved in the argument.

Briggs was transported to Wilson Medical Center by Wilson County EMS and then transferred to Pitt County Memorial Hospital.

Investigators said the incident started when Williams began arguing with a group of men on Aycock Street, just off Goldsboro Street. They said Williams walked away and got into his car, but the group followed him. They said Williams stuck a gun out of the window and fired into the crowd.

A bullet hit Briggs in the head. Neighbors said she was just walking down the street with a friend.

The incident happened in front of Brenda Cook's house. Cook saw it happen and held Briggs until help arrived.

"I was telling her: 'Hold on. Breathe slow.' I said: 'Just breathe slow. The ambulance is almost here. Just hold on. It's going to be all right, Sugar.' But I knew it wouldn't."