Arrest made in vicious assault case
by Kellen Moore
A Lenoir teen turned himself in Wednesday and admitted
assaulting two woman near Brown Heights apartments off N.C. 105 Extension last weekend, according
to the Boone Police Department.
Tips led police to believe that Ketoine Jamahl Mitchell, 19, of Lenoir, was a suspect, and officers made contact with him through family members, said Sgt. Matt Stevens of the Boone Police Department.
Mitchell turned himself in at about 4 p.m. Wednesday and was charged with two counts of assault on a female, one count of assault inflicting serious injury and one count of assault with a deadly weapon, according to police.
Mitchell provided a statement admitting his involvement in a fight that began last weekend outside the Cook Out restaurant on Blowing Rock Road. At about 2:30 a.m. Feb. 11, two women and their friends were in a vehicle when a man verbally accosted them from an adjoining drive-through lane, according to police.
After the two groups exchanged words, the man followed the vehicle to the Brown Heights apartment complex off N.C. 105 Extension and there attacked the two women, causing facial injuries and bruises that required treatment at Watauga Medical Center, Stevens said. Both were treated and released.
Mitchell is accused of kicking one victim in the head, resulting in the assault with a deadly weapon charge, Stevens said.
"A shoed foot can be a deadly weapon," he said.
The attacker left the scene in a dark-colored Honda driven by a white female, according to police.
In addition to the assault-related charges, Mitchell was found to be wanted by Caldwell County authorities and was served warrants for two counts of felony larceny from the person, according to police.
He was held at the Watauga Detention Center in lieu of a $6,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court April 17.
The police department stated in a news release Thursday morning that the investigation into the assault is continuing, and additional charges may be filed. The woman believed to have driven the vehicle could face charges for her involvement, Stevens said.
Stevens said earlier this week that although some of the man's statements related to race and sexual orientation, it's not certain that the incident would classify as a hate crime.
Tips led police to believe that Ketoine Jamahl Mitchell, 19, of Lenoir, was a suspect, and officers made contact with him through family members, said Sgt. Matt Stevens of the Boone Police Department.
Mitchell turned himself in at about 4 p.m. Wednesday and was charged with two counts of assault on a female, one count of assault inflicting serious injury and one count of assault with a deadly weapon, according to police.
Mitchell provided a statement admitting his involvement in a fight that began last weekend outside the Cook Out restaurant on Blowing Rock Road. At about 2:30 a.m. Feb. 11, two women and their friends were in a vehicle when a man verbally accosted them from an adjoining drive-through lane, according to police.
After the two groups exchanged words, the man followed the vehicle to the Brown Heights apartment complex off N.C. 105 Extension and there attacked the two women, causing facial injuries and bruises that required treatment at Watauga Medical Center, Stevens said. Both were treated and released.
Mitchell is accused of kicking one victim in the head, resulting in the assault with a deadly weapon charge, Stevens said.
"A shoed foot can be a deadly weapon," he said.
The attacker left the scene in a dark-colored Honda driven by a white female, according to police.
In addition to the assault-related charges, Mitchell was found to be wanted by Caldwell County authorities and was served warrants for two counts of felony larceny from the person, according to police.
He was held at the Watauga Detention Center in lieu of a $6,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in court April 17.
The police department stated in a news release Thursday morning that the investigation into the assault is continuing, and additional charges may be filed. The woman believed to have driven the vehicle could face charges for her involvement, Stevens said.
Stevens said earlier this week that although some of the man's statements related to race and sexual orientation, it's not certain that the incident would classify as a hate crime.