Asheville police say four people are dead and three others were injured in a shooting that occurred late Wednesday evening in West Asheville. The suspect in the case, identified as 35-year-old Maurice Laron Garner, is among the deceased. Police say he died from a self inflicted gunshot wound. He was found in a vehicle not far from the residence on Hansel Avenue where the shooting took place.
Police say 32-year-old Erica Nichelle Smith and two of her children, ages 15 and 13, were killed. Three other juveniles, ages 12, 10, and 8 were also wounded. The 12-year-old is listed in stable condition, while the 10 and 8-year-olds received minor wounds and were treated and released from the hospital. The Asheville City school system says one of the children who was killed attended Asheville High School, while the other attended Asheville Middle School.
Asheville police chief Tammy Hooper said prior to the shooting Wednesday, Garner and Smith were involved in an argument at her workplace, Mission Hospital. At a press conference Thursday morning, Hooper said Garner had no criminal record with the Asheville police department, and that officers had not received any prior domestic dispute calls at the residence where the shooting took place. Hooper added it appears Garner was not the father of any of the children.