NC Shooting: Victim Struck by Return Fire, Officials Confirm

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    In Newton, North Carolina, an unfortunate shooting incident occurred at a house party earlier this month, leaving one person dead and 11 others injured. Authorities revealed that the deceased, Shawn Hood, 58, from Lenoir, was accidentally shot by someone at the party who was defending against assailants positioned on a nearby hill, Catawba County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Maj. Aaron Turk explained.

    The person responsible for Hood’s death will not face criminal charges, as North Carolina’s self-defense laws clarify that there was no intention to harm Hood. Instead, the person was reacting to hostile fire from the hillside attackers, Turk stated during a press briefing. “The investigation confirms that Mr. Hood’s death was unintentional, occurring during a defense against the hillside aggressors,” Turk added, indicating no charges will be pursued against the shooter.

    The chaos ensued when over 80 gunshots rang out shortly after midnight on June 1, covering a crime scene that spread across multiple properties. The initial assault began as a “premeditated and seemingly unprovoked attack” from the hills, which led to the party attendees returning fire, Turk detailed.

    In total, 11 people sustained gunshot wounds, including Hood, and an additional individual was injured while attempting to escape, Turk mentioned. The party, located in a residential sector approximately 55 miles northwest of Charlotte, had participants ranging from teenagers to adults, with Hood being the oldest victim. The sheriff’s office reported that attendees’ ages started from 16 years.

    Analysis using facial recognition technology indicated that over 100 people were present at the party at various times. However, at the moment of the assault, 63 individuals were directly in the line of fire from the hillside attackers, Turk noted.

    Authorities further revealed indictments against six men, charging them with one count each of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and 63 counts each of attempted first-degree murder. Additionally, a woman faces four counts of accessory after the fact to attempted first-degree murder.

    Investigators have discovered indications of gang affiliations among the men involved and suspect that gang-related motives played a role in the attack. Despite these gang ties, there were other motivating factors, including “individualized animosity” towards one or more party attendees, Turk acknowledged. Nonetheless, the plot to disrupt the entire party was premeditated, he clarified.