Latest news with #GaronKillian
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Snapchat used to plan deadly Catawba County party shooting, search warrants reveal
CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Investigators believe a deadly mass shooting at a house party in Catawba County was not random, and now, newly unsealed search warrants reveal how social media and cell phones played a role in planning the violence. The shooting happened on June 1, 2025, at a large house party on Walnut Acres Drive, where nearly 100 people attended. More than 80 shots were fired, killing one person and injuring at least 11 others. PREVIOUS: Ninth arrest made in Catawba County mass shooting case According to the search warrants, suspects used Snapchat to talk about the attack both before and after it happened. One of the suspects, Garon Killian, allegedly told others ahead of time that he planned to 'air it out,' a phrase witnesses said meant he intended to 'open fire.' Investigators now believe this shooting was tied to a criminal gang network. During interviews with authorities, Killian said he, along with Toland Huff Jr., Ke'Andre Mack, Zachary Bates, and Izaiah Mitchell, were all involved in gang activity. Gang activity suspected in Catawba County mass shooting as four suspects face judge He reportedly admitted they often used their phones to talk about illegal operations, and he told agents he used his phone to discuss the shooting before and after it happened. The warrants also detail a meeting that happened at a Waffle House on May 30, just days before the shooting. FBI sources said Killian and Huff met with others there and discussed the upcoming party, warning that if Raekwon Craig, who they called 'Leek,' hosted the event, 'they better watch out.' That story was backed up by another witness, who told the State Bureau of Investigation that she was with Killian and Huff at a house in Lenoir before the shooting. She said Killian mentioned the party and told them to 'scope it out.' Shots, screams heard on neighbor's security camera down the street from Catawba County mass shooting investigation After the shooting, Killian and several others reportedly fled to Charlotte. He later admitted to handling a High Point handgun believed to have been used in the attack, court documents state. Now, law enforcement is digging into the suspects' cell phones and digital footprints, asking for everything from GPS data and IP addresses to messages and app usage, from May 1 to June 4. Investigators believe access will help understand the full scope of who was involved. So far, nine people have been arrested in connection with the shooting. Charges range from attempted first-degree murder to helping minors obtain alcohol: Garon Killian, attempted first-degree murder Toland Huff Jr., attempted first-degree murder Izaiah Mitchell, attempted first-degree murder Ke'Andre Mack, attempted first-degree murder Zachary Bates, attempted first-degree murder Charles Rodell Kincaid III, attempted first-degree murder Zoe Braswell, accessory after the fact Raekwon Craig, aiding underage alcohol possession Patrick Tolbert, aiding underage alcohol possession Police said this investigation remains open and ongoing. Anyone with further information, photos, or video is asked to call the Catawba County Sheriff's Office at 828-464-3112. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Washington Post
05-06-2025
- Washington Post
North Carolina judge revokes bond for house party shooting suspect
NEWTON, N.C. — A North Carolina judge ordered Thursday that a defendant accused in last weekend's shootings at a house party that left one person dead and 11 others injured stay in jail while awaiting trial. The decision came the day after another judge had set a $200,000 bond for Garon Nathaniel Killian, 20, of Lenoir, who is charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder related to the shootings. Prosecutors on Wednesday had asked that no bond be allowed.
The Independent
05-06-2025
- The Independent
North Carolina judge revokes bond for house party shooting suspect
A North Carolina judge ordered Thursday that a defendant accused in last weekend's shootings at a house party that left one person dead and 11 others injured stay in jail while awaiting trial. The decision came the day after another judge had set a $200,000 bond for Garon Nathaniel Killian, 20, of Lenoir, who is charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder related to the shootings. Prosecutors on Wednesday had asked that no bond be allowed. Killian had not posted the amount to be released. On Thursday, when Killian had a court date for charges involving a different altercation in April, District Court Judge Scott Conrad revoked the $200,000 bond related to last weekend's violent fracas, according to the Catawba County Clerk of Court's office. Investigators of the shootings that happened early Sunday believe at least 80 shots were fired in a crime scene that spanned several properties along a road in the usually quiet residential neighborhood. FBI agents spent this week at the scene examining bullet trajectories. The Catawba County Sheriff's Office has said that beyond Killian three people have been arrested and charged with crimes related to the party or shootings, and that authorities were seeking on Thursday two other men also wanted on attempted first-degree murder. Giving Killian on Wednesday the chance to post bond had angered local law enforcement leaders. Hickory city police announced previously that Killian and another young man had been charged with many counts — including attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill — for an April 6 altercation in a parking lot that led to shots being fired into a crowd. No one was injured. Catawba Sheriff Don Brown said on Wednesday at a media briefing that while Killian was freed by posting bond several days later he 'should have never went back on the street," and called the situation 'frustrating' and 'infuriating.' Shawn Patrick Hood, 58, of Lenoir, was killed in last weekend's gunfire. He was the oldest of the victims, who ranged in age from as young as 16, the sheriff's office said. Two of the other three people arrested were charged with three counts of helping someone underage 21 by allowing the possession of alcoholic beverages. The charges are related to the planning and promotion of the house party, the sheriff's office said. There were many juvenile or underage attendees, the state Division of Alcohol Law Enforcement said Wednesday. The other person arrested was charged as an accessory to attempted first-degree murder after the fact, the sheriff's office said.
Associated Press
05-06-2025
- Associated Press
North Carolina judge revokes bond for house party shooting suspect
NEWTON, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina judge ordered Thursday that a defendant accused in last weekend's shootings at a house party that left one person dead and 11 others injured stay in jail while awaiting trial. The decision came the day after another judge had set a $200,000 bond for Garon Nathaniel Killian, 20, of Lenoir, who is charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder related to the shootings. Prosecutors on Wednesday had asked that no bond be allowed. Killian had not posted the amount to be released. On Thursday, when Killian had a court date for charges involving a different altercation in April, District Court Judge Scott Conrad revoked the $200,000 bond related to last weekend's violent fracas, according to the Catawba County Clerk of Court's office. Investigators of the shootings that happened early Sunday believe at least 80 shots were fired in a crime scene that spanned several properties along a road in the usually quiet residential neighborhood. FBI agents spent this week at the scene examining bullet trajectories. The Catawba County Sheriff's Office has said that beyond Killian three people have been arrested and charged with crimes related to the party or shootings, and that authorities were seeking on Thursday two other men also wanted on attempted first-degree murder. Giving Killian on Wednesday the chance to post bond had angered local law enforcement leaders. Hickory city police announced previously that Killian and another young man had been charged with many counts — including attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill — for an April 6 altercation in a parking lot that led to shots being fired into a crowd. No one was injured. Catawba Sheriff Don Brown said on Wednesday at a media briefing that while Killian was freed by posting bond several days later he 'should have never went back on the street,' and called the situation 'frustrating' and 'infuriating.' Shawn Patrick Hood, 58, of Lenoir, was killed in last weekend's gunfire. He was the oldest of the victims, who ranged in age from as young as 16, the sheriff's office said. Two of the other three people arrested were charged with three counts of helping someone underage 21 by allowing the possession of alcoholic beverages. The charges are related to the planning and promotion of the house party, the sheriff's office said. There were many juvenile or underage attendees, the state Division of Alcohol Law Enforcement said Wednesday. The other person arrested was charged as an accessory to attempted first-degree murder after the fact, the sheriff's office said.
Washington Post
05-06-2025
- Washington Post
North Carolina law enforcement outraged over bond for suspect in house party shooting
NEWTON, N.C. — North Carolina local law enforcement expressed frustration on Wednesday that a man charged in connection with last weekend's shooting around a house party that left one person dead and 11 others injured had been out of jail for unrelated charges lodged against him in April. Garon Nathaniel Killian, 20, of Lenoir, was arrested Tuesday and accused of one count of attempted first-degree murder related to the shooting in a residential neighborhood about 7 miles (11 kilometers) south of Hickory. Killian remained in the Catawba County jail after a hearing Wednesday before a district court judge who said he could be released awaiting trial if a $200,000 bond was posted. Prosecutors had requested that no bond be allowed, media outlets reported.
