The Catawba County Sheriff's Office has identified an 18-year-old Morganton resident, Izaiah (Zae) Mitchell, as a person of interest in a recent mass shooting on Walnut Acres Dr. In a release shared on their social media channel, authorities also stated that Mitchell is wanted for an unrelated robbery that involved a dangerous weapon in Burke County. Mitchell is currently considered armed and dangerous, and the public is being urged to assist in his apprehension.
As the search intensifies, the Sheriff’s Office has requested that anyone with information on Mitchell’s whereabouts contact them directly at 828-464-3112. In their effort to encourage community cooperation, Major Aaron Turk, Public Information Officer for the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office highlighted the urgency of the situation in a public statement, emphasizing the potential danger posed by Mitchell to the public.
While details of the mass shooting remain scarce, the identification of Mitchell as a person of interest suggests a troubling link between the violent event and the robbery charge he faces. Officials are working to piece together this connection and mitigate any further risk to the community. The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office has not released any additional details regarding the number of victims or the circumstances surrounding the shooting pending their ongoing investigation. However, they have assured the public that all efforts are being made to locate and safely apprehend Mitchell.
