Castle Doctrine Coverage

For Christian Griggs' parents, wrongful-death verdict is progress, not justice

Dolly and Tony Griggs discuss the verdict in their wrongful death lawsuit against the Harnett County minister who killed their son in 2013. The minister claimed it was self-defense. A jury ruled otherwise.

For Christian Griggs' parents, wrongful-death verdict is progress, not justice

Dolly and Tony Griggs discuss the verdict in their wrongful death lawsuit against the Harnett County minister who killed their son in 2013. The minister claimed it was self-defense. A jury ruled otherwise.

Extended interview with Dolly and Tony Griggs

Dolly and Tony Griggs discuss the jury verdict in their wrongful-death lawsuit against the Harnett County minister who killed their son and talk about what comes next.

Christian Griggs' parents: Our fight is not over

Dolly and Tony Griggs won a jury verdict in the wrongful-death lawsuit they filed against the Harnett County minister who shot and killed their son, claiming it was self-defense. In this extended interview, they call for criminal charges and for the resignation of the district attorney.

Griggs family: 'Our fight is not over'

Dolly and Tony Griggs say their fight for justice is not over. A jury ruled in their favor in the wrongful-death lawsuit they filed against Harnett County minister Pat Chisenhall, who shot their son Christian to death in 2013. Chisenhall claimed he killed Christian Griggs, who was his son-in-law, in self-defense.

Shooting victim's family rips statement from Harnett County sheriff, call on DA to resign

The Harnett County sheriff says the decision not to charge Angier minister Pat Chisenhall for the 2013 shooting death of his son-in-law was the right call, even after a jury said it wasn't self-defense. Christian Griggs' parents aren't surprised.

Tyler Dukes, WRAL investigative reporter, and Mandy Mitchell, WRAL enterprise reporter

Jury sides with shooting victim's family in wrongful-death case against Angier minister

A Harnett County jury ruled that the Rev. Pat Chisenhall was not acting in self-defense when he shot and killed his son-in-law, Christian Griggs, in 2013.

In civil trial, jury finds Angier pastor did not kill son-in-law in self defense

A Harnett County jury Wednesday found that an Angier pastor is responsible for the wrongful death of his son-in-law, who he shot and killed in 2013.

Tyler Dukes, WRAL investigative reporter

Chisenhall attorney gives closing statement in wrongful-death trial

Robert Levin, the attorney for the Rev. Pat Chisenhall, gave his closing statement in Harnett County in the wrongful-death lawsuit filed against the minister by the family of Christian Griggs. Chisenhall shot Griggs to death in 2013, saying it was self-defense. Griggs was Chisenhall's son-in-law.

Lawyer for Griggs family gives closing statement in wrongful-death case

Robert Jesup, an attorney for the family of Christian Griggs, gave his final statement in the wrongful-death lawsuit the family filed against Pat Chisenhall, a Harnett County minister who shot Griggs to death in 2013. Chisenhall said he shot Griggs, who was his son-in-law, in self-defense.

Closing arguments in Harnett County: Self defense or wrongful death?

Lawyers delivered their closing arguments Wednesday morning in the civil court trial against the Angier pastor who shot and killed his son-in-law in 2013.

Tyler Dukes, WRAL investigative reporter

911 recordings raise questions about timeline of Griggs shooting

A Harnett County jury Tuesday heard 911 calls from the estranged wife of Christian Griggs, recorded shortly before he was killed by his father-in-law in 2013, as testimony in the wrongful death lawsuit over the case stretched into its fifth day.

Tyler Dukes, WRAL investigative reporter

Harnett deputies recount scene of Griggs shooting as civil trial continues

Deputies with the Harnett County Sheriff's Office took the stand Monday in the wrongful death suit against a Harnett County pastor, describing the scene shortly after he shot and killed his son-in-law in 2013.

Tyler Dukes, WRAL investigative reporter

Judge, dispatcher hear 911 calls differently in wrongful death case

The Rev. Pat Chisenhall's three calls to 911 on the day he shot and killed his son-in-law were dissected one sentence fragment at a time Friday in the wrongful-death civil trial against the Harnett County minister.

The Peregrine Corp.

Emanuel Kapelsohn is a use-of-force consultant and expert witness. Harnett County Superior Court Judge Beecher Gray refused to let him testify in the wrongful-death lawsuit against Angier minister Pat Chisenhall.

911 recordings trigger dispute in wrongful-death case against Angier minister

The Rev. Pat Chisenhall's calls to 911 on the day he shot and killed his son-in-law were dissected one sentence fragment at a time Friday in the wrongful-death civil trial against the Harnett County minister.

Dave Hendrickson, enterprise editor

Angier pastor takes stand in wrongful death suit over son-in-law's killing

The Angier pastor facing a wrongful death lawsuit over the shooting of his son-in-law took the stand in the civil trial Thursday, telling a Harnett County jury he didn't remember much from the incident at his Angier home in 2013.

Tyler Dukes, WRAL investigative reporter, and Mandy Mitchell, WRAL enterprise reporter

Pat Chisenhall describes shooting his son-in-law to death to investigators

In this video, the Rev. Pat Chisenhall explains to investigators his recollection of the events that led him to shoot his son-in-law, Christian Griggs, who died from his wounds. The Sheriff's Office video was entered into evidence in the wrongful-death lawsuit that the Griggs family filed against Chisenhall.

Shooting victim's father testifies in wrongful-death suit against Angier minister

Christian Griggs' father, Anthony Griggs, and a medical examiner testified in the first full day of trial in the wrongful-death lawsuit against the Rev. Pat Chisenhall.

Video: Rev. Pat Chisenhall testifies about shooting his son-in-law to death

Two key witnesses Wednesday recounted the lead-up and aftermath of the 2013 shooting of Christian Griggs by his father-in-law, an Angier pastor, in a wrongful death suit that will test the protections of the state's Castle Doctrine.

Tyler Dukes, WRAL investigative reporter, and Mandy Mitchell, WRAL enterprise reporter

Attorney for Pat Chisenhall makes opening statement

Robert Levin, an attorney representing Pat Chisenhall in a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the family of Christian Griggs, makes his opening statement in Harnett County Superior Court Wednesday.

Attorneys make opening statements in wrongful-death lawsuit

These are the opening statements presented by attorneys for Pat Chisenhall and for the family of Christian Griggs in the family's wrongful-death lawsuit.

Griggs family's attorney makes opening statement

Rebecca Ugolick, one of the attorneys representing the Griggs family, makes her opening statement in Harnett County Superior Court Wednesday. Behind her is a photo of Christian Griggs and his daughter Jaden. Ugolick is holding the rifle used in the shooting death of Christian Griggs.

Wrongful-death lawsuit under way in Harnett County

Pat Chisenhall sat in a Harnett County courtroom Tuesday. Chisenhall is the defendant in a wrongful-death lawsuit.

Presumption of Fear: Photos

People and places from Presumption of Fear. Photos by Suzie Wolf.