An evening shooting on Mount Olive Church Road in Morganton left an 18-year-old dead and a 47-year-old hospitalized on Tuesday, according to local authorities. Deputies arrived to find two people suffering from gunshot wounds. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was taken to a hospital for treatment. The Burke County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation is ongoing and that no arrests have been made.
According to WCNC, the person killed has been identified as 18-year-old Dawson Whisenant. The surviving victim is 47-year-old Timothy Whisenant, who was taken to the hospital for gunshot injuries. WCNC reports that deputies were dispatched to the Mount Olive Church Road area after a 911 caller reported that multiple people had been shot.
What Dispatch Reported
A 911 caller told dispatch that "multiple people were shot" and described one person with chest wounds and another with a leg injury, according to WCNC. Investigators with the Burke County Sheriff’s Office are still processing the scene, and the station reports that no arrests have been made at this time.
Investigation And Local Context
Deputies have not identified a suspect or released a possible motive, and investigators say they are still working to piece together what led up to the shooting. The case adds to a year of deadly gun incidents in Burke County. In March, a separate fatal shooting near a local trail system was ultimately ruled self-defense, according to WBTV.
Anyone with information about the Mount Olive Church Road shooting is urged to contact the Burke County Sheriff’s Office tip line or reach out to local law enforcement. Contact details and official updates are available through the Burke County Sheriff’s Office.
