Shelby Shooting Leaves 1 Dead, Another in Hospital

Shelby police officers responded to a call of shots fired at 809 McGowan Road on Thursday night. When they arrived, they found the two victims had been shot.

Fifty-four year-old John Albert Cummings was dead on the scene while Ronnie Lee Pearson, 54, was suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso. According to police, Pearson had been involved in a dispute with 49 year-old Sherman Timothy Lee at the house on McGowan Road, when Lee shot Cummings and Pearson. Pearson was taken to Cleveland Regional Medical Center and is expected to recover.

Lee, a resident of Shelby, was arrested and charged with murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. Also charged with murder is 49 year-old David Williams, whom police say acted as an accomplice to Lee. Williams and Lee are both jailed in Cleveland County without bond while they await trial.

Gastonia Woman Assaults Two Minors in One Day

Toni Meeks

Gastonia police have arrested local resident Toni Nicole Meeks, 39, for two incidents that occurred Thursday.

The first incident occurred at 2760 Meade Avenue. That case involved Meeks using a stun gun on an 11 year-old boy. According to reports, Meeks used the tazer on the boy by shocking him in the neck. Though the boy was transported to an area hospital for burns he sustained, he is expected to recover. Gastonia police charged Meeks assault on a child under 12 and assault with a deadly weapon for that incident.

That same day, Meeks is accused of trying to punch a 17 year-old girl just down the street from the first case. That incident landed Meeks a simple assault charge. After her arrest, Meeks was jailed under a $9,000 bond for the assault with a deadly weapon case and a $1,000 bond for simple assault. Authorities are not certain if the two cases are connected.

Gastonia Police Arrest Two for Shooting Out of Moving Car

Rashawn Antonio Williams

 Gastonia police officers have arrested two men accused of firing a shotgun from their car as they were traveling in Gastonia Wednesday night.

Twenty-four year-old Rashawn Antonio Williams and 41 year-old Sonny James Hayes were arrested Thursday. Reports place the two in a 2006 Nissan Altima driving down the 1500 block of Poston Circle, which runs off of Franklin Boulevard near New Hope Road. Williams aimed a 12-gauge shotgun at another car and fired the gun out of the car's window.

Luckily, none of the four occupants in the other car were injured. The shooting stems from a domestic dispute between Williams and his girlfriend, and Williams mistakenly thought that she was in the other vehicle.

Sonny James Hayes

Williams faces charges including assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury, discharging a firearm within city limits, and going armed to the terror of the public. Williams was jailed in Gaston County undre a $30,000 bond.

Hayes was charged with felony aid and abet for driving the vehicle as Williams fired the weapon. He was also jailed in Gaston County under a $15,000 bond.

Iredell Deputies Arrest Assault Suspect

 James Vernell Jones

Iredell County deputies arrested James Vernell Jones, of Troutman, September first on burglary and assault charges.

The charges stems from an August incident in which investigators say Jones broke into a house and assaulted the woman inside using knife after tying her up with rope. Jones was targeted because of identifiable tattoos on the back of his hand and through the testimony of the victim, which led to the release of a police sketch.

Iredell County authorities charged Jones with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and first-degree burglary.

21 Year-Old Arrested for Throwing Objects Onto I-85 From Bridges

Matthew Damion Parham, 21, was arrested Wednesday for throwing objects from several overpasses onto I-85 in Rowan County.

Rowan County Sheriffs arrested Parham at his Chine Grove home on Old Linn Road and charged him with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Parham had allegedly thrown objects from Daugherty, Lentz, and Pine Ridge Roads, all in Rowan County.

As officers were making the arrest, they noticed a stolen riding lawn mower on Parham's property. He was charged with larceny for the stolen mower. Parham was also charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Parham's actions left motorists injured and vehicles damaged. He is currently jailed in Rowan County under a $10,000 bond.

As the investigation of this matter continues, police have asked anyone with information about the incidents to contact Detective Misenheimer by calling (704) 216-8704 or Lieutenant Moose at (704) 216-8687.