TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. — A man was charged with using force to stop a thief at his father's business, Alexander County officials said.
Chris Beasley was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and shooting into an occupied vehicle.
Police said three men tried to rob Beasley Power Equipment in April.
Beasley, the business owner's son, fired shots and hit one of the suspected thieves, Marshall Evans, in the head as he sat inside a Volkswagen Jetta, Taylorsville police said.
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Evans is currently in an extended care facility recovering from the wound.
Channel 9 learned a key piece of evidence in the case is surveillance video from outside the store where the shooting unfolded.
In Taylorsville Friday, the majority of the people we spoke with feel strongly Beasley should not be charged for trying to stop the theft at the family-owned business.
"I think a man has a right to defend his business, his life, his family by all means necessary," resident Edwin Coley said.
"Don't steal it. Go out and work for it like the rest of us do," resident Shelly Bentley said.
Not everyone agrees.
After showing the video to Randy Rector, he believes Beasley went too far to stop the crime.
"It's not hurting nobody. He wasn't hurting nobody. When he stopped to shoot, he was shooting to kill. I don't believe it should have been that way," Rector said.
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