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Wednesday, December 03, 2008 10:42 AM 911: Deputies found armed man By Antonio Velarde | Times Staff Writer SMITHFIELD - Emergency communications tapes released Tuesday in connection with the fatal shooting of a Kenly man by Johnston County deputies, reveal that Johnson County EMS workers who came to the man's home prior to the shooting called for the deputies after encountering "extremely intoxicated" individuals and a man with a gun. Reginald Lee Witcher, 54, of 2349 Glendale Road, was shot to death by Johnston County sheriff's deputies after officials say he fired at them with a shotgun. Officials said two deputies, Joel Keith Garner and Adam Jameson Case, were called to the residence after 9 p.m. Nov. 22, to assist EMS with subjects being uncooperative and interfering with responders' efforts to assist someone with non-life-threatening injuries. Officials said Witcher shot at the officers with his gun, injuring one, before the deputies returned fire, killing Witcher. But there had been disagreement among neighbors and sheriff's office officials about what transpired after the deputies arrived. Both deputies are on administrative leave, and the matter is being investigated by the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, as is the normal procedure. Thomas Wayne Mooney, a neighbor quoted by the News & Observer as disputing the sheriff's office account, has declined to speak to The Wilson Times. According to the 911 tapes, EMS units were called to the home after Mooney told 911 operators his wife had fallen about three feet in the front yard of Witcher's residence during a get-together they were having with the Witchers. Mooney, who sounded intoxicated, told 911 operators that the group had been drinking and cooking a pig and that his wife was unresponsive and "barely breathing." "She fell down, and she's hurt really bad," Mooney said. Mooney told operators the injury was to her neck. The call came in at 8:22 p.m. Shortly after EMS units arrived, according to the tapes, the first responders called for backup from sheriff's deputies after encountering an "extremely intoxicated" group and a man with a gun. It was unclear whether the responders were referring to Witcher. Sheriff's office officials declined to speculate. "There is a large, belligerent crowd," a responder said in the recording. "I could use some LE (law enforcement) out here." After sheriff's deputies responded to the scene, the deputies reported that shots had been fired and Witcher had been shot in the head by a deputy, with Garner suffering injuries from Witcher firing his gun. "I think I just got some shrapnel in my face from his shotgun," Garner said. The tapes were released Tuesday after Johnston County Superior Court Judge Tom Lock ordered that a decision he made last Monday sealing the 911 tapes expired Tuesday, following a telephone hearing between lawyers for the News & Observer and the sheriff's office, Johnston County District Attorney Susan Doyle and Lock. The tapes had been sealed at the request of the district attorney's office, which claimed making them public would jeopardize the investigation of the shooting. The parties agreed the tapes could be released Tuesday, giving the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation enough time to finish interviewing key witnesses. The tapes are normally public record under N.C. law. avelarde@wilsontimes.com | 265-7868 |
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