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'My son deserves justice,' says mom of Moore County man killed by sheriff's deputies

Relatives of a Moore County man who was killed last month when law enforcement officers responded to a domestic dispute call at his residence said Sunday that they are waiting for official word on how he ended up dead after the sheriff admitted this weekend that the man never fired his weapon at the officers.

Posted Updated

By
Kasey Cunningham
, WRAL reporter
ABERDEEN, N.C. — Relatives of a Moore County man who was killed last month when law enforcement officers responded to a domestic dispute call said Sunday that they are waiting for official word on how he ended up dead after the sheriff admitted this weekend that the man never fired his weapon at the officers.

Arthur Kenzie Garner's father, mother and sister spoke exclusively to WRAL News Sunday, saying they have several questions about the actions of the officers.

"The facts are the facts," said his mother, Terry Garner. "If you messed up, acknowledge it. We deserve the truth."

The State Bureau of Investigation has been probing the events surrounding the death of Arthur Garner, 33, who was killed on July 28 when officers arrived at his house early that Saturday morning following a call for help from the residence.

The law enforcement officers were called to 106 Forest Place Drive in Aberdeen shortly before 3 a.m.

Immediately after Garner was killed, investigators said when deputies arrived at the home, Garner began firing at the law enforcement officers, who returned fire and killed him.

On Saturday, however, Moore County Sheriff Neil Godfrey confirmed to WRAL News that the initial report was wrong.

"At this time, we do not believe that Garner ever fired at our deputies," the sheriff said in an emailed statement. "However, based upon statements made by Garner’s father, he did attempt to shoot his weapon."

The sheriff also said Garner's father "found unfired ammunition that he has stated to the media show signs that the firing pen had struck the bullets. "

The sheriff has previously identified the four deputies as Sgt. Sean Ballard, Corporal Dustin Hussey, Stephanie Griffin and Justin Mack. As a matter of routine following all fatal officer-involved shootings, all of the deputies have been placed on administrative duty while the SBI completes it investigation into the matter.

Aberdeen police Chief Tim Wenzel has said one of his officers, identified as Officer Austin Whatley, was at the scene when the incident occurred but he did not fire his weapon.

And Pinehurst police have said Sgt. Jason Caulder and Officer Michael Muse were at the scene when the shooting occurred.

Two weeks after the incident, the Garner family home still is covered in bullet holes.

The family insisted to WRAL News that their son didn't fire at deputies.

"I felt it all along (because) I was a hunter for a long time," said his father, Danny Garner. "And me standing 70 feet off the house, I should have heard gunshots coming out of the house. And it never happened."

The family said they have met with Godfrey. They are advocating for crisis intervention training for local authorities.

"I just don't understand if you had this kind of training, why would you shoot this place up the way you did," Danny Garner said.

Godfrey said he plans to have a press conference on Tuesday to provide more details about the case and release the 911 calls made to authorities when the incident began.

Relatives said Arthur Garner didn't deserve to die.

"My son deserves justice because although he had issues, he was an incredibly good man," Terry Garner said.​

“I am traumatized by this whole ordeal from all the gun shots fired into our house while I was laying on the bathroom floor trying to shield myself from the bullets," said his sister, Alyssa Garner. "Nobody knew shots were going to be fired. I don't understand why they started shooting especially while I was in the house.”

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