VALE, N.C. — Authorities have caught the suspect who was wanted after a deadly shooting in Vale late Tuesday night.
Channel 9’s Dave Faherty learned just before 5:30 that Thomas Christopher Banks had been caught after an active manhunt that lasted all day Wednesday in Catawba County.
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The shooting happened just before midnight on Dansbury Lane, which is near the Lincoln County-Catawba County line.
Deputies said the victim died at the hospital after he was shot in the yard. Authorities haven’t said what led up to the shooting.
Banks, 39, was identified as the suspect in the shooting. He’s reported to be from Cherryville.
The victim was identified as Rusty Johnson.
Neighbors told Faherty that Johnson lived in the area at one time. They said they’re taking precautions after the shooting, and they don’t recall something like this happening before.
“It’s unheard of; it just don’t happen in Vale, you know, it just makes everybody sick,” said Jesse Leatherman.
We’re expecting to learn more throughout the day on Wednesday.
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