A North Carolina homeowner who says he has endured multiple break-ins over the past month is not facing charges after police determined he shot a man who was allegedly trying to force his way into the residence.
According to the Gastonia Police Department, the case initially began with a very different story. On July 12, 57-year-old Cedric Ford and his girlfriend, 47-year-old Sanja Stallings, called 911 claiming Ford had been wounded in what they described as a drive-by shooting at an intersection.
Investigators soon discovered that account did not match the available evidence.
Police said detectives used Flock Safety’s Audio Detection system, which identified the sound of a gunshot at approximately 7:14 a.m. near a residence on Ware Avenue rather than at the location reported by the couple.
“Detectives utilized Flock Safety’s Audio Detection system, which identified the sound of a gunshot at approximately 7:14 a.m. within roughly 100 feet of the Ware Avenue address that had reported the crime,” the Gastonia Police Department said in a Facebook statement.
When detectives arrived at the home, they spoke with the property’s owner, 74-year-old Donald Bolynn. According to police, Bolynn told investigators he had been the victim of multiple burglaries and robberies involving the same suspects during the previous month.
As detectives continued investigating, they concluded that Ford had allegedly attempted to break into the residence shortly before the gunshot was detected.
“Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined that Ford was attempting to break into the residence at approximately 7:13 a.m. when the homeowner fired a single round through a window, striking Ford,” the department said.
Bolynn later described the incident to WBTV, explaining that despite dealing with significant health problems, including hearing loss, he realized someone was trying to get inside his home.
He said he initially could not see anyone but then spotted Ford through a window.
“That’s when I got my gun and shot,” Bolynn told the station.
Police ultimately charged Ford and Stallings with first-degree burglary.
“The homeowner will not face charges,” the Gastonia Police Department stated.
The case also drew attention because of the role played by Flock Safety’s technology. The company’s Audio Detection system helped investigators pinpoint where the gunshot actually occurred, leading detectives away from the alleged drive-by shooting location and toward the residence where the confrontation took place.
