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“On June 1, our typically quiet community was tragically shaped by a reckless and violent act, a mass shooting that has deeply affected us all,� Catawba County Sheriff Don Brown said at a press conference on Tuesday. “This horrific event disrupted the peace we cherish and has left an indelible mark on our hearts.�

One man was killed in the shooting and 11 people were injured. Shots were fired into a pool party of about 100 people on Walnut Acres drive in the Mountain View area, according to the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. On Monday, the sheriff’s office announced indictments of the accused shooters, and said the man who died was killed accidentally in crossfire by someone shooting in self defense.

Monday indictments in Mountain View shooting

The six men indicted by a Catawba County grand jury on Monday are 20-year-old Garon Nathaniel Killian, 20-year-old Toland Huff Jr., 18-year-old Izaiah Kane Mitchell, 22-year-old Zachary Michael Bates, 19-year-old Ke’andre O’neal Mack and 27-year-old Charles Rodell Kincaid III.

All six men were indicted on 63 counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder, District Attorney Scott Reilly said at the press conference Tuesday.

“I stand before you today in the aftermath of a horrific and senseless act of violence that occurred on June 1,� Reilly said. “An event that has shaken our community to its core. What began as a gathering of people simply enjoying time together ended in bloodshed. This is something that no one ever expects in a community like ours.�

On June 1, four shooters allegedly hid in the tree line of a neighboring hillside and fired 50 rounds into a unsuspecting crowd of people attending a pool party at 1125 Walnut Acres Drive. Catawba County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Aaron Turk said the indictments issued on Monday are linked to 63 people who were identified using facial recognition software to analyze videos taken during the shooting. Turk said all 63 people were in the direct line of fire for the four hillside shooters.

Turk said there were four shooters, a getaway driver and a coconspirator. All six are believed to be the men indicted by the Catawba County grand jury. Turk declined to specify who is accused of what role. In previous court hearings, Kincaid was identified as the driver while Mack, Bates, Huff and Mitchell were each identified as shooters when Catawba County Chief Assistant District Attorney Timothy Gould made arguments for setting no bonds.

Zoe Makenna Braswell, 18, of Cajah’s Mountain, was indicted on four counts of accessory after the fact to attempted first-degree murder, Reilly said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation agents spent four days collecting evidence at the scene. The FBI was responsible for determining bullet trajectories of all 80 shell casings found at the scene, FBI Special Agent in Charge James Barnacle said.

“There were around 80 rounds fired that day. Sadly, bullets hit victims,� Barnacle said. “Others went into houses. They burrowed in the roof, skipped off concrete and bounced off cars parked in the yard. People that pull a trigger, the bullet doesn’t care where it goes, they have a responsibility, and they’re going to face justice.�

Barnacle added if any federal charges are applicable, the charges will be pursued.

The mass shooting was gang related and planned out days in advance. Turk said the main plan appears to have been to target the pool party in its entirety, though some of the suspects had personal vendettas against certain individuals at the party.

The hillside shooters fired 50 of the 80 shell casings recovered from the scene. Turk said there were several partygoers who were armed who returned fire.

Shawn Patrick Hood, 53, of Lenoir, was the victim who died at the scene. Turk said ballistics showed that Hood was shot by one of the partygoers who returned fire. That partygoer will not be charged, Turk said.

Turk said, in total, 12 people were injured, including Hood, during the attack. One of the victims was injured trying to escape the gunfire. The other 11 were shot. The victim’s ages ranged from 16 to 53.

Indictments in April shooting

Garon Killian and Toland Huff were also indicted in connected to a shooting into a crowd of people at Party City in Hickory in April. Killian was out of jail on bond for his initial charges in the Party City shooting when the June 1 mass shooting occurred.

Reilly said Killian was indicted on seven additional counts of attempted first-degree murder in the and Huff was indicted with two counts of accessory after the fact to attempted first-degree murder.

Kylee Simpson was another person named in Catawba County search warrants as a participant in conversations about shooting up the June 1 party in the days prior. Simpson has not been charged in the June 1 shooting but is charged with seven felony counts of attempted first-degree murder and seven felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill in the Party City shooting, according to court documents.

Multi-agency effort

“Since that day (June 1), an extraordinary team of over 150 law enforcement officers and support staff has worked tirelessly to investigate and bring clarity to this devastating incident,� Sheriff Brown said. “I want to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt gratitude to every member of this team, as well as to all of our law enforcement and first responder partners.�

Brown said the partnerships between local, state and federal agencies is what has made the investigation successful.

“What began that morning quickly evolved into one of the most comprehensive investigative operations I have witnessed in my 37 years in law enforcement,� Brown said. “Agencies from multiple jurisdictions and disciplines came together, seamlessly collaborating as though they had worked side by side for many years, when in fact, many of them had never met before.�

The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation logged more than 700 hours of investigation into the mass shooting case, SBI Special Agent in Charge Chris Laws said.

“The SBI has been on all-hands-on-deck mode since this senseless incident occurred on the early morning hours of June 1,� Laws said. “Four of the eight districts in the state of North Carolina have been working on this case. Currently, there’s 22 agents still working on this case, and not to mention the numerous non-sworn personnel in various capacities that have been assigned to work on this investigation.�

The accused party planners, Patrick Lee Tolbert, 22, of Hickory, and Raekwon Malik Craig, 21, of Taylorsville, are each charged with three counts each of aiding and abetting a person under 21 years of age by allowing the possession of alcoholic beverages, according to court documents.

N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement Assistant Director Isreal Morrow said that alcohol is involved with 40% of violent crimes.

“The core mission of the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement is to prevent alcohol-related harm and reduce violence through targeted enforcement and strategic partnerships,� Morrow said. “That’s how we were able to arrest the two gentlemen for promoting and hosting the party the night of the event.�

Brown said 21 agencies are involved with the investigation or were part of the initial response to the scene.

“Catawba County Emergency Medical Services, those folks went into a hot zone that they’re not trained for,� Brown said. “They were brave and courageous.�