Burke County school locked down after shot fired

CONNELLY SPRINGS, NC — Three men were arrested Wednesday morning after a shot was fired near a Burke County elementary school.

Icard Elementary in Connelly Springs was put under lockdown after the men allegedly came on school grounds with a loaded .410 bore shotgun.

All three were taken into custody a short distance from the school after firing the gun.

When asked by Channel 9's Dave Faherty why they fired the gun, one said it was because they were being chased by a vehicle.

"I was afraid for my life," Douglas Shuford said.

Shuford denied taking the shotgun onto the school's property.

"I did not have a shotgun on school property,” suspect Justin Hatley said. “That was Douglas Shuford -- had a gun on school property"

"I didn't have no gun,” suspect Tabitha Evans said. “I don't believe in guns. There are no guns in my house. There's nothing else."

Sheriff Steve Whisenant showed Channel 9 where the shot was fired across the street from the school.

"Obviously, how foolish it is to be on school property, in this time, with a loaded gun?" Whisenant said.

Parents were thankful for the quick response by police and that no one was hurt.

"They ought to be seriously punished. I mean, this is school, you know?" mother April Griggs said.

Shuford was taken to the magistrate's office in Morganton and charged with violating a domestic violence order for having the loaded shotgun.  Other charges against Shuford and the two other men are pending.

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