Police: Business owner's son shoots man trying to steal chainsaw

TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. — Deputies are investigating a shooting after three men tried to rob a business in Taylorsville, officials said.

RAW: Burke Outdoor surveillance footage

The men were trying to steal a chain saw from Beasley Power Equipment when one man was shot, police said.

Police said the crime is linked to another almost identical robbery and could be linked to more.

IMAGES: Deputies: Person shot at Taylorsville business after robbery

"One gentleman ran out with the stolen saw, (an) employee came out behind him, and at that time a couple of shots were fired by the employee," Taylorsville Police Chief Dennis James said.

The business owner's son fired those shots, hitting one of the suspected thieves in the head as he sat inside a Volkswagen Jetta, James said.

RAW VIDEO: Suspects in Taylorsville robbery speak to Channel 9
The men sped away but didn't get very far. They were caught around the corner near the Sheriff's Office with a chain saw in the back seat, authorities said.

The shooting victim was flown to Carolinas Medical Center-Main with life-threatening injuries.

Channel 9 was the only station to talk to the men as they sat on the ground in front of the store in handcuffs.

"Were you guys involved in some kind of robbery?" reporter Dave Faherty asked one of the two arrested.

"We took a chain saw, (a) man that worked in the store come out and shot him. It was an unjustified shooting," the man said.

He said they didn't take a chain saw.

Jonathan Andrew Akers and Bobby Dean Pearson were arrested for felony larceny in connection with the chain saw theft, police said.

But many of the people Channel 9 spoke with Friday said they don't feel bad about what happened including a customer from the store.

"I probably would have shot all three of them,” Berton Bailey said. “That's my honest opinion. This has got to stop."

Investigators told Channel 9 on Friday that the same man who stole the chain saw in Taylorsville has admitted to a nearly identical crime at Burke Outdoor in Morganton.
       
The owner of Burke Outdoor showed Channel 9 a video of the theft in which a man is seen pulling a large lock cutter out of his pants, cutting a lock and then stealing a chain saw valued at more than $1,000.

Police are also looking at a third case in Lenoir in which they believe the same man tried to steal a similar saw out of another business. The owner said he chased him down only to have the chain saw thrown at him as the suspect ran to a car and took off.

Police said they will take the Beasley Power Equipment case to the district attorney on Monday to determine if the owner’s son will face any charges.

WSOC