A Gaston County man identified in booking records as Cleon Ware is facing a stack of felony charges after investigators say shots were fired into an occupied property. According to the booking entry, Ware is charged with discharging a firearm into an occupied property, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to seriously injure (AWDWISI), and possession of a firearm by a felon. The booking was posted yesterday.
Ware’s photo and the list of charges appeared in WCCB Charlotte’s regular “Gaston County mugshots” roundup. WCCB Charlotte credits DJ Beal and notes the firearm-related counts as they appear in local booking logs. The station’s post does not provide a fuller narrative of what allegedly happened or say whether anyone was hurt.
What the charges mean under state law
Under North Carolina law, firing a gun into an occupied property is a felony offense, with penalties that increase when shots are aimed at an occupied home or when someone is seriously injured. Depending on the circumstances, prosecutors can pursue the crime as a Class E, D or C felony. Separately, state law bars convicted felons from possessing firearms at all, and violating that restriction is also a felony. For the legal fine print, see N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-34.1 and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-415.1.
Where this fits locally
The case lands at a time when Gaston County authorities have been dealing with a run of weapons calls this year, including an hours-long May standoff in Gastonia that ended with similar firearm charges. In that incident, officers said they believed shots were fired toward nearby homes and a school, though no injuries were reported. The steady drumbeat of gun-related arrests has kept local law enforcement busy with extra patrols and follow-up investigations. For background on the May standoff, see coverage from WBTV.
What to watch next
From here, the case moves to Gaston County prosecutors and the courts, which will handle any indictment, bond decisions and early hearings. Those steps will show up in public court filings. Booking information and charge details are available through the Gaston County inmate inquiry portal run by the sheriff’s office. Anyone with information about the alleged incident can contact local law enforcement or CrimeStoppers. As in every criminal case, the charges are accusations only, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
