350 pounds of marijuana found inside home during shooting investigation

ALEXANDER COUNTY, N.C. — Dozens of vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana were discovered inside an Alexander County home during an investigation into a shooting that left two people injured earlier this week.

According to Alexander County investigators, deputies were called to the home north of Taylorsville on Tuesday after two men were shot during what police described as a drug deal gone bad.

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Outside the home, Channel 9 crews spotted children’s toys scattered across the yard.

“People are more concerned about money than the lives of their own children,” said Alexander County Sheriff Chris Bowman. “The money, the cash, the drugs -- they had to be around it.”

Deputies believe the home was being used as a stash house for the drugs to be moved throughout the Carolinas and locally.

Investigators said they found about 350 pounds of vacuum-sealed packages containing marijuana and various concentrated forms of THC that are derived from marijuana, including wax.

Alexander County drugs seized Alexander County Sheriff Chris Bowman poses next to tables covered with drugs seized from a house north of Taylorsville. (Alexander County Sheriff's Office)

The drugs have a street value of roughly $525,000. Cash totaling approximately $240,000 was also seized from the home.

Neighbors told Channel 9 they were surprised by the amount of drugs that were found and glad it’s gone.

“You never hear anything hardly ever,” said Nyoka Matney. “It’s a good neighborhood and that will make it even better.”

“Probably wouldn’t be too bad if you took a bulldozer in there and got rid of the property,” said another neighbor.

Four arrested in Alexander County drug bust Nathaniel Davis, Marco Banks, Christina Ledford and Timothy Heffner. (Alexander County Sheriff's Office)

The following people have been charge:

Nathaniel Lee Davis, W/M age 23 of Taylorsville was charged with Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury, Felony Trafficking Marijuana, Felony Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver a Controlled Substance, Felony Maintain Vehicle/Dwelling for a Controlled Substance, and Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance. Davis is being held under a $235,000 secured bond with a first appearance date of April 12, 2021 in Alexander County District Court.
Timothy Jordan Heffner, W/M age 26 of Statesville was charged with Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury, Felony Trafficking Marijuana, Felony Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver a Controlled Substance, and Felony Possession of Schedule VI Controlled Substance. Heffner is being held under a $210,000 secured bond with a first appearance of April 12, 2021 in Alexander County District Court.
Christina Jean Ledford, W/F age 22 of Taylorsville was charged with Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury, Felony Trafficking Marijuana, Felony Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver a Controlled Substance, Felony Maintain Vehicle/Dwelling for a Controlled Substance, and Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance. Ledford is being held under a $235,000 secured bond with a first appearance date of April 12, 2021 in Alexander County District Court.
Marco Duzell Banks, B/M age 18 of Danville, VA was charged with Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury, Felony Trafficking Marijuana, Felony Possession with Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver a Controlled Substance, and Felony Possession of Schedule VI Controlled Substance. Banks is being held under a $210,000 secured bond with a first appearance of April 12, 2021 in Alexander County District Court.