BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — A well-known Burke County deacon and youth coach was shot and killed at his home. It happened Monday morning at a home south of Morganton.
The victim’s four sons were present Tuesday for an emotional court appearance. They told Channel 9′s Dave Faherty their dad was a deacon at Laurel Haven Baptist Church and helped coach rec teams in the area for 18 years. The church is just down the street from his home.
“He would do anything in the world to help anyone he could. Ultimately, that’s what brought this situation about,” Jason McNabb said. “He was trying to help people and it turned on him is what I feel.”
Another of McNabb’s sons, Josh, said he was a great father.
“He did everything to raise us right,” Josh McNabb said. “People just got to change the way they’re living.”
Faherty’s camera was the only one in the courtroom as the suspect, Teddy Rathbone, appeared before a judge. Sheriff’s deputies said 69-year-old Lynn McNabb was killed at his home along Mountain View Boulevard. His family believes he was ambushed.
When Faherty was at the home Tuesday, he could see a lot of damage to the front door. Lynn McNabb’s son said he got to the home Monday and knew something was wrong when he saw the damage. He said he began performing CPR after calling for help.
‘If I could take it back, I would,’ suspect says
The Burke County Sheriff’s Office arrested Rathbone on Monday.
“Just got out of hand, out of control,” Rathbone told Faherty that night. “It could have been avoided.”
He told Faherty that he was apologetic about the killing.
“Yes, most definitely,” Rathbone said. “If I could take it back, I would.”
Deputies confirmed with Faherty that there was a child inside the home when the shooting happened.
Investigators said afterward, Rathbone fled the area but was arrested in McDowell County after deputies spotted him in a stolen car.
Court records show Rathbone has previous narcotics charges, including trafficking heroin and larceny charges from earlier this summer.
Prosecutors said they are still working to learn the motive behind the deadly shooting. Neighbors said McNabb will be missed.
“He was one of the best. Anyone needed help, he would help,” Brenda Hoyle said.
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