Multiple suspects arrested in connection with mass shooting at North Carolina topless pool party.
Five individuals have been apprehended in connection with a mass shooting that occurred during a “topless pool party” in North Carolina, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries. The incident took place during the early hours of Sunday, June 1, in Catawba County. Authorities have reported that the shooting left one person dead and nearly a dozen others wounded.
In a statement from the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, 20-year-old Garon Nathaniel Killian was taken into custody late Tuesday night. Killian faces charges of first-degree attempted murder, emerging as one of the primary suspects believed to have instigated the violence. Other arrests followed swiftly; on Wednesday and Thursday, four additional suspects were detained. Among them was 22-year-old Zachary Micheal Bates of Morgantown, who, like Killian, has been charged with attempted first-degree murder. Two others, 22-year-old Patrick Lee Tolbert and 21-year-old Raekwon Malik Craig, were charged with multiple counts of facilitating underage alcohol consumption during the organization of the event. An 18-year-old, Zoe Braswell, has been charged as an accessory after the fact to attempted first-degree murder.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities continue to seek three additional suspects believed to be armed and dangerous. Toland Huff Jr. is one of the individuals sought, identified as allegedly initiating gunfire alongside Killian. Reports suggest that the shooting began from a nearby hillside in what has been characterized as an unprovoked attack. Eyewitnesses noted that partygoers responded with return gunfire during the chaotic scene.
Killian appeared in court on Wednesday and was initially granted a bond set at 0,000, despite objections from prosecutors. However, this bond was revoked the following day by District Court Judge Scott Conrad during a separate court appearance related to previous charges.
Initially, police responded to a noise complaint at a residence in Mountain View, Catawba County. Hours later, around 12:45 a.m., law enforcement was called back due to reports of gunfire, where they discovered the body of 58-year-old Shawn Patrick Hood, who succumbed to a gunshot wound. Hood was reportedly instrumental in promoting the party.
At the time of the shooting, the gathering allegedly drew as many as 100 attendees. The victims’ ages ranged from 16 to 58, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence. The investigation has extended across six counties, with FBI agents analyzing the scene for bullet trajectories, while authorities have appealed for any available video footage that could provide clarity regarding the incident.
The events surrounding this tragic occurrence raise urgent questions about community safety and the circumstances that led to such a violent outbreak in a typically quiet residential area.
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