Anthony Eugene Harper, a 51-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on July 2, 2016, in Statesville, North Carolina. The incident occurred in the 1200 block of Wilson Lee Boulevard, where Harper was found suffering from a gunshot wound inside a residence. Paramedics transported him to a hospital in Winston-Salem, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries later that evening.
The suspect in the case was identified as 36-year-old Desmond O'Neil Thompson, also an
African American male from Iredell County. According to the Statesville Police Department, the shooting resulted from an argument between Harper and Thompson. Following the altercation, Thompson fled the scene on foot. Investigators quickly obtained warrants for Thompson's arrest on charges of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. After Harper's death, the charges were upgraded to murder.
On July 4, 2016, Statesville detectives received a tip regarding Thompson's whereabouts. Officers responded to Windrush Apartments on Signal Hill Drive Extension, where they located and arrested Thompson without incident. He was subsequently held in the Iredell County Jail with no bond. The case garnered significant attention in the local community, highlighting the tragic consequences of violence and the swift response of law enforcement in apprehending the suspect.
