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Man charged with killing neighbor faces judge

By Trish Williford
By Trish Williford

GASTONIA, N.C. — Neighbors are calling it a bizarre and deadly tale of two next-door neighbors in a usually quiet community in Gastonia.

On New Year’s Day, the peace along Jefferson Avenue was interrupted by several rounds of gunfire.

Marie Ballard and her sister, Dawn Jenkins, both live across the street from Joseph Zinna.

They dropped everything and ran over to their windows when they heard the gunshots Friday evening.

They said they saw Zinna in his yard.

“After the second set of shots, he was just wandering around his front yard,” Jenkins said.

“In my heart, I expected something to happen. I knew something was gonna happen,” Ballard said.

Gastonia police told Channel 9 the suspect, Zinna, shot his wife outside their home around 5 p.m. Friday.

According to neighbors, Zinna’s wife managed to jump in her car and speed away to get to safety.

Police said Zinna then walked over to this next-door neighbor’s home, and shot and killed Mark Sheridan Sr.

So far, police haven’t released a motive for the shootings, but neighbors said Zinna and Sheridan began feuding six years ago.

“The Zinnas bought a lot of fireworks and it ended and I understand Mr. Sheridan cussed them out, angry about the noise about the fireworks on the roof,” Ballard said.

Zinna remains behind bars without bond. He will appear before a judge Monday.

His wife was released from the hospital Saturday.

Police investigate homicide in Gastonia

A Gastonia man accused of shooting and killing his neighbor also shot his own wife in the face, according to police.

Officers arrested 48-year-old Joseph Zinna for shooting his neighbor, Mark Sheridan Sr., 62, Friday night on Jefferson Avenue.

He was found dead inside his home, police said.

Neighbors told Channel 9 they heard multiple gun shots around 5:30 p.m. and that the shooting stemmed from an on-going feud over fireworks.

Channel 9's partners at the Gaston Gazette reported that Zinna shot his wife in the face with a shotgun.

https://twitter.com/TrishWSOC9/status/683111535816867840

Zinna was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, shooting into an occupied dwelling, shooting into occupied vehicle and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill.

He is in jail under no bond.

The investigation is ongoing.

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