Willie Breeden, a 33-year-old male from Gastonia, NC, tragically died on September 13, 2020, from a gunshot wound to the chest at his home. The incident was determined to be domestic-related. Willie Breeden was pronounced dead at CaroMont Regional Medical Center after being taken there by emergency responders.
Valencia McLean, Breeden's live-in girlfriend and a 31-year-old female, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with his death.
According to reports, McLean claimed that Breeden accidentally shot her in April 2019 with an AR-15 while they were cleaning the weapon together. Despite her initial claim that it was an accident, McLean was later charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. However, the charge was dismissed in February 2020.
The fatal shooting occurred on September 13, 2020, and McLean was arrested shortly after the incident. She was held without bond and remained in custody while awaiting trial. During the investigation, police found that McLean had allegedly hidden the gun before the shooting, contradicting her earlier statements. Prosecutors planned to use recorded jail phone calls against McLean during her trial.
The case drew significant attention due to the domestic violence allegations and the complex history between Breeden and McLean. McLean's defense team argued that she was a victim of domestic violence, but the prosecution presented evidence suggesting otherwise. The trial was highly publicized, and the community closely followed the developments.
In summary, Willie Breeden's death was the result of a domestic-related shooting, and his girlfriend, Valencia McLean, was charged with first-degree murder. The case involved a complicated history of domestic violence allegations and legal proceedings.
