Joshua Eric Kelley, a 33-year-old man from Nebo, North Carolina, died on October 3, 2017, at Mission Hospital in Asheville. Kelley sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his torso and head during a shootout that occurred early in the morning on October 2, 2017. The incident took place at a garage on Rolling Meadow Drive in Nebo, where Kelley, along with three other men, began firing shots into the building. Four individuals inside the garage returned fire in self-defense, leading to Kelley's fatal injuries.
Following the shootout, Michael Allen Spencer, a 43-year-old man from Linville Road, Nebo, was arrested and charged with four counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and one count of robbery with a dangerous weapon. Spencer was with Kelley during the incident, and authorities believe that the individuals inside the garage were defending themselves, making it unlikely that they will face charges related to Kelley's death.
Investigators are still searching for two other men who were involved in the shootout and are wanted for questioning. These individuals are Greggory Cole Lowery, a 29-year-old man from Linville Road, Nebo, and Daniel McCoy Bradley, a 38-year-old man from Harmony Grove Road, Nebo. Authorities have urged anyone with information about Lowery's or Bradley's whereabouts to contact the McDowell County Sheriff's Office or Crime Stoppers.
The investigation into Kelley's death revealed that the shootout was a result of a home invasion gone wrong. Kelley and his accomplices attempted to rob the individuals inside the garage, leading to the exchange of gunfire. The McDowell County Sheriff's Office has stated that the investigation is ongoing, and they are working to apprehend the remaining suspects.
