Dispute between neighbors over parking leaves Gastonia father of 2 dead

GASTONIA, N.C. — A Gastonia man is in jail without bond, accused of killing his neighbor in a dispute over parking, police told Channel 9.

Police said Gregory Town shot and killed Patrick Schneider just after 1 p.m. Saturday on Dawnwood Drive.

Officers at the scene said a dispute between the two men over parking was followed by gunshots.

Schneider, 25, was transported to a hospital but was pronounced dead.

Town, 59, was arrested at his home without incident, police said. A handgun was found in his residence. He is charged with first-degree murder.

(Gregory Town)

Police said Town and Schneider had a history of disputes with the latest stemming from the parking of cars in the street in front of Town's home.

“To argue or to have a disagreement is one thing, but to go to such an extreme over something so simple, I think is irrational,” neighbor Jon Frost said.

(Patrick Schneider)

Channel 9 spoke with other neighbors as well as Schneider’s family, who said they never thought things would go as far as they have.

“People just need to really learn to take a breath for a minute, you know what I mean, and just calm themselves down,” Frost said.

Relatives told Eyewitness News that Schneider was a father of two children.

“To happen in your own neighborhood, it hit home really,” said neighbor Daniel Hufton. “That's shocking, very shocking.”

Channel 9 checked and found no previous convictions for Town.

Cox Media Group