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Six men already in custody are now facing dozens of additional charges after a Catawba County grand jury handed down sweeping indictments in connection with the June 1 mass shooting at a party on Walnut Acres Drive near Hickory. One woman has also been charged with aiding the suspects after the attack.
The shooting injured 12 people and killed Shawn Hood. At a press conference held June 24, officials from the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, and North Carolina SBI confirmed that the bullet which struck and killed Hood was not fired by the hillside attackers, but rather by someone at the party who was returning fire.
“Our investigation is showing that the person responsible for Mr. Hood’s death was not intending to target Mr. Hood,” said Major Aaron Turk of the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. “That person was targeting the hillside shooters. As such, no charges will be pursued at this time.”
7 indicted in mass shooting
The Catawba County Grand Jury indicted seven individuals. Six of them—Garon Killian, Toland Huff Jr., Izaiah Mitchell (also known as Zay Harris), Zachary Bates, Ke’Andre Mack, and Charles Kincaid—are now each facing one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and 63 counts of attempted first-degree murder.
Zoe Braswell, the seventh person indicted, faces four counts of accessory after the fact to attempted murder. Investigators say she helped the suspects after the shooting.
“These suspects are all gang-affiliated,” said a lead investigator. “They positioned themselves on a hillside and fired into a crowd of over 100 people attending a party. This was a deliberate and coordinated attack.”
“There were around 80 rounds fired that day,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge James Barnacle. “Sadly, bullets hit victims. Others went into houses, embedded in rooftops, skipped off concrete, and bounced off cars parked in the yard.”
Officials said facial recognition software helped identify at least 63 individuals who were directly in the line of fire—each of whom forms the basis for a separate attempted murder count.
Investigation reveals friendly fire killed Shawn Hood
Officials offered new details about the death of Hood, who was killed during the shooting. “There were multiple people at the party who were armed and returned fire during the chaos,” said Major Turk. “We now know that Mr. Hood was accidentally hit by one of those rounds.”
Investigators said Hood’s family has been briefed and that the person who fired the fatal shot was not acting with criminal intent.
Law Enforcement Mobilized on a Massive Scale
Catawba County Sheriff Don Brown emphasized the scale of the investigation and praised the coordinated response.
“What began that morning quickly evolved into one of the most comprehensive investigative operations I have witnessed in my 37 years in law enforcement,” Brown said. “Our community’s safety remains our highest priority.”
The investigation involved more than 150 officers and staff from at least 25 agencies, including the FBI, SBI, ATF, NC Alcohol Law Enforcement, multiple sheriff’s offices across North Carolina—and even the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota.
FBI agents conducted more than 100 interviews and spent four days collecting evidence at the crime scene using advanced technology. Ballistics work and 3D modeling are underway to map bullet trajectories and support ongoing prosecution.
According to SBI Special Agent in Charge Chris Laws, “Four of our eight districts have been involved in this case. Our agents and support staff have logged more than 700 hours so far, and there’s still more work to do.”
Questions Remain
Officials said the investigation is far from over. Among the open questions: What was the full extent of the suspects’ gang affiliations? Who organized the party, and did money change hands for the use of the property?
So far, no charges have been filed against the homeowners. “We’re still working to determine whether the property was rented, and whether attendees paid to be there,” investigators said.
Prosecutors say more charges could be added, including potential indictments for firing into occupied dwellings.
Sheriff Brown thanked the community for its support and patience. “This horrific event disrupted the peace we cherish,” he said. “It has left an indelible mark on our hearts.”
Opinion & Analysis: Cops & Congress Commentary
What Really Happened on Walnut Acres Drive?
What happened wasn’t just a party gone wrong. It was a calculated, premeditated ambush—one law enforcement official is now calling one of the most coordinated acts of gang violence in the region’s recent history.
Let’s start with what we know: A hillside. A crowd of over 100 people. More than 80 rounds of gunfire. At least 12 people were injured. One man is dead, struck not by an attacker, but by someone trying to defend the partygoers.
According to Catawba County investigators, six gang-affiliated men launched the assault from higher ground, opening fire on the gathering. The bullet that killed Hood didn’t come from the hillside—it came from someone on the property who was returning fire in what officials now say was a tragic accident. No charges will be filed in his death.
That may sound reasonable from a legal standpoint. But it doesn’t mean the system is working perfectly.
Here’s why this matters:
1. This was a gang attack. Let’s say it plainly.
Sheriff’s deputies confirmed that each of the six men indicted is gang-affiliated. The suspects reportedly plotted this attack for days. There were also mentions of “individualized animosity,” meaning this wasn't random—it was personal and strategic. But authorities stopped short of naming the gang or explaining its reach.
Why? Organized crime in North Carolina, especially in rural and exurban counties, is often underestimated and underreported. Law enforcement is doing their job—but are politicians and policymakers doing theirs?
2. A party or a business?
We don’t know yet who paid for the house. We don’t know who promoted the event. We don’t know if the homeowners were paid, or if attendees paid to get in.
But here's what the ALE (Alcohol Law Enforcement) confirmed: Two men were arrested for promoting and hosting the party, and illegal alcohol distribution is under investigation. If someone profited from putting hundreds of people in harm’s way, they need to be held accountable, not just the shooters.
3. Facial recognition, used without debate
Law enforcement officials utilized facial recognition software to identify over 100 attendees at the party. That’s a powerful tool—but one that should concern anyone who believes in due process and privacy.
Did these people consent to biometric surveillance? Were their photos stored? Will their data be deleted? These questions matter in a constitutional democracy.
4. Gunfire came from both sides
We now know that multiple people at the party were armed and fired back. Some of them, according to officials, may also have gang affiliations. That’s not exactly “self-defense” in the traditional sense.
5. Still many unanswered questions
Who rented the house? Who promoted the party? Why this target? What kind of gang warfare is playing out in rural North Carolina? Officials say the case is ongoing—but it’s up to journalists and citizens to keep asking hard questions.
Bottom line: This wasn’t just a “party shooting.” This was a failed community intervention. Gang activity doesn’t start with bullets—it starts with systems that fail our youth. But the bullets are real. The consequences are real. And until we shine a brighter light on what’s festering beneath the surface, this won’t be the last time.
That’s why Cops & Congress exists: to tell the truth when no one else will. If you support this kind of reporting, become a paid subscriber (or share if you already are - thank you!) and help fund the work it takes to stay on top of stories like this. Public safety and public trust start with transparency.
