On January 7, 2024, at approximately 4:10 p.m., the Burke County Sheriff's Office responded to a reported shooting at 2854 Pax Hill Road in Morganton, North Carolina. Upon arrival, deputies discovered 57-year-old Gary David Ritch suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was promptly transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
At the time of the incident, bail bonding agents were present at the scene.
According to Ritch's girlfriend, Polly Moretz, a man and a woman forcibly entered their bedroom by kicking in the door, after which she heard three to four gunshots. Moretz indicated that Ritch had a history of arrests for driving while intoxicated and was out on a $9,000 bond. She also mentioned that Ritch possessed a pellet gun inside the home, though it remains unclear if he was holding it during the confrontation.
The Burke County Sheriff's Office is conducting an ongoing investigation in collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Insurance, which oversees the licensing and regulation of bail bonding agents. As of now, no arrests have been made, and authorities are consulting with the local district attorney's office to determine whether any charges will be filed in connection with Ritch's death.
