Police arrest two suspects accused of shooting Morganton man, robbing him for pain pills

MORGANTON, N.C. — Police have arrested and charged a second suspect in a shooting in Morganton in May.

According to our news partners at the Hickory Daily Record, police said someone called 911 Monday afternoon to say Ezra Patton was at a veterinary clinic.

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Officers were able to arrest him and transport him to the Burke County Jail.

Police think Patton and Kristin Ellis, another suspect who is already in custody, shot a man on Lenoir Road and robbed him of his pain pills, then led officers on a chase.

Authorities said three people were hurt. Two of the victims were shot and all three were stabbed.

Investigators said there was an altercation in a home along Lenoir Road, which led to gunfire with two young children around.

“It’s just a horrific incident and unfortunate all the way around,” Morganton Public Safety Maj. Ryan Lander said. “Nobody wins in situations like this.”

The children were not hurt, authorities said.

A man and woman ran from the home after the shots were fired, they got into a car.

The woman led officers on a high-speed chase with speeds reaching more than 100 mph before she pulled over, police said.

The man inside the car had been shot and had injuries that were life-threatening.

Investigators said the three people involved in the incident were Richard Hidalgo, Patton and Ellis.

Before the chase ended, authorities said someone inside the car threw a shotgun out the window.

When the shotgun was thrown out the window, another driver stopped and stayed there until other police arrived.

Edna Patrick who lives next door to the home on Lenoir Road where shots were fired.

She said a drive-by shooting was reported three months ago at the same home. Her thoughts are with the young children who were there.

“I’m certainly concerned with the children and their safety,” Patrick said. “We see them walk up and down the roads quite a bit. It’s kind of unnerving.”

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The children’s grandmother took them from the home.

Two other victims were hospitalized.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation was called to the scene.

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