Bond has been revoked for Garon Nathaniel Killian, the 20-year-old man accused in the Catawba County mass shooting, as reported by WCNC. A judge determined Killian to be a "danger to the community," given his involvement in a previous shooting incident in Hickory where he allegedly fired shots into a crowd. Killian’s ties to a violent incident go back to April, when he was charged with seven counts of attempted first-degree murder among other crimes.
After prosecutors presented their case against Killian, the judge ordered his bond from the previous shooting to be revoked. On top of past accuses, Killian was arrested and charged with a house party shooting on June 1 in Mountain View, resulting in one fatality and 11 others injured. Despite initially being granted a $200,000 bond for the mass shooting case, his previous bond for the April incident was canceled, keeping him in detention, The Charlotte Observer reported.
The Catawba County Sheriff's Office, in tandem with the SBI and FBI, are continuing to delve into the investigation of the mass shooting. The event, which was advertised on social media as a topless pool party, spiraled into violence when shots were fired from a hillside towards attendees. The situation has cast a gloom upon the Mountain View community, and law enforcement officials are pressing forward to bring all involved parties to justice, according to WBTV.
"The sheriff’s office is relieved that the public safety has been ensured by the revocation of Mr. Killian’s bond in the April shooting," Major Aaron Turk of the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office told WBTV. Law enforcement’s frustration with the initial release of Killian on bond was palpable, with Catawba Sheriff Don Brown questioning, "How can I, how can we, all of law enforcement, protect the lives and property of our citizens when someone already charged with seven counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, is out of jail on bond?" as per a statement obtained by WCNC.
Meanwhile, Raekwon Malik Craig, allegedly involved in promoting the party where the shooting occurred, appeared in court and has emphasized his necessity to remain out of custody to care for his recovering mother. Records indicate that Craig also has a history with law enforcement, including arrests for possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, WCNC reports. As the community and authorities work through the aftermath of this event, the legal processes will continue to unfold, with Killian's next court date scheduled for June 23.
