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GREENSBORO — Just last month, Ricky Earlton Woods received a suspended sentence and was put on probation for receiving a stolen vehicle and felony breaking and entering.

On Monday, Greensboro police say, Woods accidentally shot his 13-year-old brother in the neck.

It’s not uncommon for convicted felons to carry firearms, even though they are prohibited by law from possessing such weapons, law enforcement officials say.

Last year, the courts dealt with nearly 4,700 cases of possession of a firearm by a felon, state records show. That’s up from about 1,100 in 1997.

In Guilford County, about 400 cases involved that charge last year, up from about 130 in 1997.

“Some of them just get caught up in this culture that guns are fun, which leads them to possess it and then, unfortunately, they have to pay the consequences,” said Greensboro police Lt. Dennis Willoughby.

Woods was handling a gun during a family picnic at Claremont Courts apartments when the weapon discharged and hit his brother, Shaquon Woods. His injuries were not life-threatening, police said. The boy was taken to Moses Cone Hospital and later transferred to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. The hospital would not release information on his condition Saturday, citing federal privacy laws.

As of Saturday afternoon, Ricky Woods, 20, was still at large. He faces charges of felony possession of a firearm by a felon and a misdemeanor charge for altering the serial number on a gun.

A search warrant executed Monday at 2705 Patio Place, Apt. H, shows police recovered shell casings and bullets from two types of firearms and an empty ammo box for a third, but no weapons.

Willoughby would not say what type of weapon caused the victim’s neck and shoulder wounds.

“This young man paid the price,” Willoughby said. “Because if (Ricky Woods) was obeying the law, this would never have happened.”

Last year, the state logged convictions in 1,684 cases of possession of a firearm by a felon. Guilford saw 175 convictions.

Possession doesn’t mean owning the weapon, said Howard Neumann, Guilford County’s chief assistant district attorney. “I think it’s important that they know that,” he said. “If it’s in your hands, then you’re guilty. The law prohibits you from possessing it, having it under your control.”

He wasn’t surprised by the increasing number of charges.

“There’s a huge illegal gun market out there,” Neumann said. “Guns trade hands ... in the same fashion that controlled substances do. It’s just a street business.”

Police ask anyone with information on the location of Ricky Woods to call Crime Stoppers at 373-1000.

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer.fernandez@news-record.com