MORGANTON, NC — When a mother saw her grown daughter’s life, and the life of her grandchildren, threatened by her daughter’s boyfriend, she knew she had to take action.
With a single shot, she ended the threat. Vernon Dale was dead, with a single gunshot to the head.
As WSOC reports:
Officials with the Burke County Sheriff’s Office said they went to a residence in the Shady Acres Mobile Home Park on U.S. Highway 64 in Morganton around 1:21 a.m. and found 46-year-old Vernon Eugene Dale dead from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.
Authorities said there were three adults, including Dale, and two small children in the home at the time of the shooting. Sheriff’s deputies said Dale was arrested Wednesday for assault by pointing a gun and communicating threats.
A few hours after being released from jail, he showed up at the home where he got into a fight with his girlfriend and her mother. Investigators said the mother shot Dale once in the head. Neighbors described hearing just a single shot around 1 a.m.
Deputies said the mother of Dale’s girlfriend told them that the shooting was an act of self-defense and that she feared for her life. Deputies told Channel 9 that they seized two 9 mm handguns from the home.
It certainly seems like a clear-cut case for self-defense — I wouldn’t expect any charges to materialize from this shooting.
Breaking Burke- this is a picture of Vernon Dale. He was released from jail hours before being shot and killed inside his home by his girlfriend’s mother. Deputies say she feared for her life. pic.twitter.com/RggF14f4bo
— Dave Faherty (@FahertyWSOC9) December 21, 2017
There’s an important thing to remember here, and although it’s well-known, it always can stand repeating:
The police were well-aware this man was a threat. The police couldn’t be everywhere at once. Despite the man already being on the police’s radar, lives were threatened.
Only an armed and vigilant populace — grandmothers included — can hope to consistently preserve the safety of a society.
Stay safe out there, folks.
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