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Teen shot in drug deal gone wrong in Cleveland County

CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. — A 14-year-old was shot in the chest Thursday afternoon during a suspected drug deal that went wrong, the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office said.

The teen was a passenger in a car being driven by a 17-year-old who went to buy drugs from 18-year-old Gabriel Alsubagha, detectives said.

[Shelby police warn about rash of fake money in circulation]

The occupants inside the car tried to pay for the drugs using counterfeit money, detectives said.

They said Alsubagha reportedly fired seven shots into the car, striking the 14-year-old.

The incident happened outside Alsubagha's home at 908 Jim Elliott Road, according to our news partners at the Shelby Star.

Alsubagha is being held in the Cleveland County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

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