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Gunman fires at Cherokee County officers on the day they’re honored with a parade

On the day, officers should be enjoying thanks from the community. More work.  A gunman opens fire, and bullets hit one of the
After the Serial Killer intensity that terrorized the community for 9 days, The Peach Festival parade was going to be a brief respite, a moment of thanks. 

But now officers face another criminal investigation.  And it’s a bizarre one.

A family apparently kidnapped in nearby Gaston County, according to Sheriff Bill Blanton.  Held since Friday night.  Then an escape.  The victims get police on the suspects trail, that leads to Cherokee County.  And then a shootout.  The suspects went through surgery and is at Spartanburg Regional.

NEW Suspect is Identified:

The suspect is identified as Jerry Douglas Case, w/m,  dob 7-16-57.

Case is from Gastonia N.C. where he is currently on parole for murder… A charge he origionally received a death sentence for in 1986.

Case has a long criminal history.

He is currently in Spartanburg Regional Medical Center where he underwent surgery today.

No other information is available at this time.

Sheriff Bill Blanton

Background on suspect criminal history from WBTV

Jerry Douglas Case, 51, received a death sentence March 29, 1986, for the stabbing death of Knoxville, Tenn., cab driver Franklin D. Gorlay.

Case pleaded guilty to first-degree murder so his girlfriend and accomplice, Telina Clontz, would receive a lighter punishment. 

A new trial was ordered Nov. 11, 1991. The state Supreme Court ruled in 1992 that Case could not barter his life.

He received a life sentence Aug. 19, 1992, for second-degree murder.

He is currently paroled under a scholastic and vocational parole program aimed at readying inmates for society.

First release from Sheriff Bill Blanton earlier in the day

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s office received an alert from our
communications at 5:30 am this date in reference to four people being
kidnapped in Gaston Co N.C. The suspect went into the Kangaroo Station
at
the Corner of Hwy 18 And I-85 in Cherokee County when the victims, A
father, his daughter and two small children managed to start the car and
drive to Blacksburg where they called police.

The four victims stated that they had been held captive since Friday at
about 5:00pm.

After they managed to escape officers arrived on scene at the Kangaroo
Station and immediately began tracking the suspect who had fled into a
wooded area.

After tracking for 30 minutes the tracking team found the suspect in a
thick swampy area near the Kangaroo.

The suspect fired at officers several times hitting one officer in the
leg. Officers returned fire hitting the suspect several times.

The suspect was air lifted to Spartanburg Regional and is in surgery at
this time.

The officer received only a minor scratch and was treated at the scene
and
did not require further medical attention.

Deputies from Gaston County are interviewing the victims and will bring
any kidnapping charges.

Sled is investigating the shooting.

Further details will be released as they become available.
No further information is available at this time.