NEWTON, N.C. — In an ongoing investigation following a violent outbreak at a house party in western North Carolina, authorities have arrested and charged eight individuals. The event last weekend resulted in the death of one person, with 11 others injured amidst a flurry of gunfire. The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office made the arrests and announced them between Thursday and early Friday.
During court appearances on Friday, five of the defendants stood before a judge. Among these, four defendants were initially charged with a single count of attempted first-degree murder. Two of these individuals have been ordered to remain jailed without the option of bond. However, later developments on Friday indicated that each of the four previously mentioned defendants faced an additional ten counts of attempted first-degree murder. These suspects remain in custody with court hearings expected to follow next week.
During these court proceedings, a prosecutor argued that the shootings had connections to local gang activities, a claim supported by the sheriff’s office. “Gang motives were a part of this tragedy,” stated Major Aaron Turk of the sheriff’s department, emphasizing that unraveling the gang connections forms a critical aspect of the ongoing investigation.
The house party was attended by both adults and youths in a quiet neighborhood approximately 55 miles northwest of Charlotte. An earlier arrest in the week of another individual led to them also being charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder. Additionally, two people face charges related to enabling underage drinking, as they were involved in organizing and publicizing the gathering.
The crime scene was marked by over 80 gunshots fired shortly after midnight on June 1. This extensive scene spread across multiple properties and involved gunfire erupting from an elevated area beside the house. Subsequent shots were recorded around the party house, its front yard, and nearby roads.
Among the victims was Shawn Patrick Hood, a 58-year-old from Lenoir, who was fatally shot, making him the oldest casualty. The ages of the victims start as young as 16, with many sustaining gunshot injuries. No charges have been filed specifically for Hood’s murder as investigators, according to Turk, need clarity on the origin of each shot at the party before attributing culpability for the homicide. FBI agents have joined forces, examining bullet paths to piece together this complex narrative.