Mooresville Man With Gun Tried To Run His Wife Over: Sheriff

MOORESVILLE, NC — A Mooresville man faces a laundry list of charges after he allegedly pointed a gun at his wife during a domestic dispute, then attempted to run her and bystanders down with the car he was driving.

An Iredell County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the March 1 domestic dispute call at 135 Ginger Lane in Mooresville, and “while responding to the call, communications advised the suspect in this incident was actively trying to run his wife and other bystanders over with his vehicle,” ICSO said in a statement.

Deputies then learned that the suspect, identified as Gary Lee Paynter II, 49, was armed with a gun and had “reportedly pointed it at his wife,” ICSO said.

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

Before the deputy arrived at the home, however, Paynter left in a silver Ford Mustang. A short time later, the officer passed a car matching its description on Shinnville Road, and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The driver, however, would not stop and the officer canceled the pursuit due to weather and traffic conditions.

The car was spotted turned into a neighborhood off Charlotte Highway, and the driver was apprehended on Rainford Court, ICSO said. After he was taken into custody, deputies found a .45 caliber handgun, cocaine, drug paraphernalia and an open container of alcohol in a search of his vehicle.

Paynter was transported to the Iredell County Detention Center and was charged with felony fleeing to elude arrest, careless and reckless driving, driving while impaired, felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, felony possession of cocaine, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, open container of alcohol in a passenger area of a vehicle, driving while license revoked, domestic assault with a deadly weapon, assault by pointing a gun, and communicating threats.

He was denied bond on the domestic violence charges and a secured bond for the remaining charges was set at $12,500.