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Sheriff: Son shoots, kills father after threatened with chainsaw

STANLY COUNTY, N.C. — A neighbor in Stanly County woke up to flashing lights and several squad and crime-scene vehicles but didn't know a father and son inside a home got into a deadly argument.

"When I woke up I was scared; I didn't know what was going on," the woman, who asked not to be identified, said.

Sheriff George Burris told Channel 9 it started early Sunday morning when Stanley Harwood, 57, and his wife got into an argument. Their 20-year-old son stepped in, and the dad and son argued before it got violent.

Authorities said Stanley Harwood grabbed a chainsaw. His son, Seth Harwood, grabbed his gun and shot and killed him.

https://twitter.com/lizfosterWSOC9/status/681507517613129728

"From evidence we have, the chainsaw had been started and was running," Burris told Channel 9.

Sheriff deputies and emergency medical services responded within minutes, but the father died.

Eyewitness News anchor Liz Foster asked the sheriff if the shooting was in self-defense.

"We've got to look at everything. Right now, we're still investigating it as a homicide,” Burris said.

The sheriff said it's the county's first homicide of the year. Seth Harwood has not been arrested or charged.

Channel 9 tried talking to the family but no one came to the door, despite several cars in the driveway.

Neighbors along Highway 73 outside of Albemarle are shocked.

"I would've never thought something that awful would've happened," one said.

The State Bureau of Investigation is helping with the ongoing investigation. Authorities are waiting on autopsy results before deciding if charges should be filed.

Eyewitness News anchor Liz Foster was the first to tweet about this investigation. Follow her for the latest updates.

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