MORGANTON, N.C.
– A North Carolina man is facing multiple charges after allegedly striking a woman in the head with a handgun while visiting a patient at
UNC Health Blue Ridge
hospital in Morganton.
The incident occurred around
9:20 a.m. on Sunday, July 20
, when Morganton Public Safety officers responded to reports of an assault near the hospital entrance on South Sterling Street.
Hospital security informed police that the man, later identified as
44-year-old Jason Scott Inman
, was last seen exiting the facility and walking down from the parking deck. Security lost sight of him shortly after, prompting authorities to set up a perimeter around the campus to search for the suspect.
Victim and Suspect Were Visiting the Same Patient
Investigators later determined that both
Inman and the victim
had been at the hospital to visit the same patient. According to officials, an
altercation broke out
between the two during the visit.
Inman allegedly
drew a handgun
, pointed it at the woman while
threatening her
, and then struck her in the head. The blow caused injuries that required medical attention. Officials say Inman fled the hospital immediately after the assault.
Arrest Made in Caldwell County
Law enforcement located Inman later that day at his residence on
Oak Hill School Road in Lenoir
, with assistance from the
Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office
. He was taken into custody without incident.
Inman Facing Multiple Charges
Inman has since been
booked into the Caldwell County Jail
and is being held under a
$150,000 secured bond
. He faces the following charges:
-
Felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill
-
Felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury
-
Misdemeanor assault by pointing a gun
-
Misdemeanor communicating threats
-
Misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon
-
Misdemeanor going armed to the terror of the public
Do you believe security should be increased at hospitals in light of this case? Share your thoughts with us at
SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com
and help us explore ways to keep health care settings safer for everyone.
