Kevin Ray Hefner, a 28-year-old male from Claremont, North Carolina, tragically passed away on November 4, 2017. Kevin was found lying in the doorway of his residence with an apparent gunshot wound. Witnesses reported that he was shot after answering a knock at his front door. The Catawba County Sheriff's Office responded to the call and initiated an investigation into the incident.
The investigation led to the arrest of Tony Allen Brittain II, who was charged with the murder of Kevin
Hefner. Brittain was taken into custody at his home in Claremont. According to the authorities, Brittain and his daughter, Halie Brittain Lassman, went to Hefner's home to retrieve money for drugs that Lassman had purchased earlier that day. When Lassman discovered that the drugs were fake, she and her father returned to Hefner's residence. Brittain, armed with a shotgun, shot and killed Hefner when he opened the door.
In December 2021, Tony Allen Brittain II pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Catawba County Superior Court. He was sentenced to a minimum of nine years in prison. Halie Brittain Lassman was charged with accessory after the fact of murder, and her next court date was scheduled for February 7, 2022. The case highlighted the tragic consequences of drug-related disputes and the impact on the community of Claremont.
