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Cornelius teen pleads guilty in shooting of officer

By Mark Barber
By Mark Barber

CORNELIUS, N.C. — A Cornelius teenager pleaded guilty to shooting and seriously injuring a Cornelius police officer and will spend at least seven years in prison.

Greyson Ferrell, 19, pleaded guilty Monday to assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury and assault with a deadly weapon on a government official.  He will be formally sentenced Sept. 11.

[Police: Teen wearing bullet proof vest shoots Cornelius officer]

That’s the day Ferrell was set to go on trial for the May 2, 2015 attack at his home in Cornelius.

Prosecutor Glen Cole said Lt. James Quattlebaum was one of several officers who answered a call to Ferrell’s home for a domestic disturbance.  When Quattlebaum walked into the house, Ferrell was upstairs but then started walking down to confront police.

“As he came down the stairs, he leveled that shotgun at Lt. James Quattlebaum,” Cole said.

Ferrell fired and hit Quattlebaum in his bulletproof vest, knocking him down.

[Judge sets $1 million bond for teen charged with attempted murder]

Cole said Ferrell was also wearing a bulletproof vest and military style fatigues, and that he was slightly injured when an officer fired back.

Police later reported finding posts Ferrell had made on social media criticizing police and suggesting that he might be preparing for a confrontation.

After court Monday, Ferrell’s attorney said he is a changed young man.

“He deeply and sincerely and earnestly apologizes to Lt. Quattlebaum,” attorney Eben Rawls said.

Rawls said Ferrell has received treatment for drug and alcohol abuse and that he is ready to accept his punishment.

“It's going to be hard for him, but he accepts responsibility for his conduct and is ready to accept the consequences of his conduct,” Rawls said.

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