A Granite Falls man is sitting in jail without bond after a Connelly Springs shooting left an adult man wounded, according to county officials. Deputies say the victim identified 43-year-old Wendell Sherwood Osborne as the gunman after a report of a gunshot on Sunday.
Investigators quickly moved to secure warrants, charging Osborne with felony first-degree burglary and felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. He was located and served with those warrants on July 27 and was taken before a Burke County magistrate, who ordered him held without bond. Osborne is scheduled for his first appearance in Burke County magistrate court on July 30.
What Deputies Say Happened
According to a press release from the Burke County Sheriff's Office, deputies were dispatched to 6439 E. Meadow Trail in Connelly Springs on July 26 for a reported gunshot wound.
When they arrived, deputies say they found a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The man reportedly identified Osborne as the shooter at the scene. That identification, according to the release, led investigators to obtain warrants for felony first-degree burglary and felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.
The Sheriff's Office says Osborne was found the following day, July 27, served with the warrants, and brought before a Burke County magistrate, where he was ordered held without bond. Officials say his first court date is set for July 30.
Arrest, EMS Response And Ongoing Investigation
The Sheriff's Office also shared the update on Facebook, noting that Burke County EMS transported the injured man to UNC Blueridge for treatment. The George Hildebran Fire Department assisted at the scene, and Burke County Emergency Services was listed as a responding agency.
Officials have not released any additional information on the victim's condition and say the investigation is still active. More details are expected to be released as the case moves forward.
Osborne's Previous Run-Ins With Deputies
County records indicate this is not Osborne's first contact with local law enforcement. In a February press release from the Burke County Sheriff's Office, officials detailed a Feb. 20, 2026, traffic stop in which Osborne was a passenger.
That earlier stop led to felony possession of methamphetamine charges against Osborne and a secured bond. The same release listed his address as 6463 Edwards Way in Granite Falls and noted that he has appeared in county court on prior matters.
Next Stop: Magistrate Court
Osborne's first appearance in Burke County magistrate court is scheduled for July 30. The Sheriff's Office says the investigation into the Connelly Springs shooting is ongoing and that additional information will be made public as it becomes available.
