- 1 fatality and 11 injured in overnight mass shooting
- Over 80 rounds discharged during 100-person gathering
- Deputies had visited residence earlier for noise complaints
- Multiple law enforcement agencies collaborating on active investigation
- Community reeling as witnesses describe chaotic scenes of panic
The Catawba County Sheriff's Office confirmed a horrific act of violence early Sunday morning when gunmen opened fire at a residence packed with approximately 100 partygoers. Witnesses described scenes of pandemonium as over eight dozen rounds pierced the air near Mountain View, a rural community 60 miles northwest of Charlotte. The shooting marks the fourth firearm-related incident at North Carolina social gatherings this year.
Authorities revealed deputies had visited the property just two hours before the bloodshed in response to noise complaints. While party attendees complied with requests to lower music volume, the temporary calm gave way to tragedy at 12:45 AM. Crime scene analysts spent Sunday combing through the expansive two-acre property for ballistic evidence and shooter trajectories.
The deceased victim was identified as 58-year-old Lenoir resident Shawn Patrick Hood, marking a rare instance of middle-aged casualties at youth-dominated social events. Of the 11 wounded survivors, one remains in critical condition at Catawba Valley Medical Center. This pattern mirrors September 2023's Durham block party shooting where 6 were injured, suggesting troubling trends in rural community violence escalation.
Investigative collaboration between local, state, and federal agencies underscores the complexity of the case. Sheriff Donald Brown emphasized the rare partnership with FBI and ATF specialists during Sunday's press conference: We're analyzing security footage, shell casings patterns, and social media posts to identify every individual involved.The multi-jurisdictional approach follows protocols developed after 2022's Raleigh mass shooting investigation.
Teenage attendees told investigators the shooting erupted without warning during peak party hours. We hit the ground and crawled toward vehicles,one minor told WSOC reporters. Such accounts highlight growing concerns about youth exposure to public violence - a 38% increase in under-18 witnesses at North Carolina crime scenes since 2020 according to state data.
Law enforcement experts suggest the scale of evidence - including ballistic remnants and digital footprints - could lead to swift breakthroughs. However, the absence of immediate arrests has left Mountain View residents anxious. Community leaders announced plans for a Tuesday vigil at Murray's Chapel Baptist Church, echoing responses seen after similar tragedies in neighboring Burke County.
