Kings Mountain officer suspended without pay after shooting

SHELBY, N.C. — A Kings Mountain police officer has been suspended without pay following charges related to a shooting at his home in Shelby.

Channel 9 reported when the shooting happened Sunday afternoon on Poplar Street. Shelby Police Department officers found a woman had been shot in the leg, and she was taken to the hospital.

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Edward Padgett, who resides in Shelby but works for the Kings Mountain Police Department, was arrested and is currently held without bond at the Lincoln County Jail.

Court documents indicate that the woman who was shot also lives at the same address as Padgett. Prosecutors say the woman was dating Padgett at the time.

Padgett has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injuries.

Prosecutors say it started as an argument that went too far when Padgett made a disturbing statement.

“Mr. Padgett told the victim, you should go shoot yourself,” prosecutor Kevin Sherriff said.

Sherriff said Padgett then got his own personal gun and revealed that it had a live round after she said it wasn’t loaded. The prosecutor said Padgett pointed the gun at her and shot the woman.

Padgett’s attorneys said at first, both Padgett and the woman said she accidentally shot herself. They told the judge the victim later said Padgett accidentally shot her.

“And that he was genuinely surprised that the gun went off,” said defense attorney David Teddy.

Teddy argued that Padgett isn’t a threat to the public and shouldn’t be kept in jail.

“He has a history of protecting the community,” Teddy said.

Following the shooting, deputies returned to Padgett’s home with court documents, but no one answered the door.

On Tuesday, Padgett was granted a bond for $100,000. If he gets out, he’s not allowed to have a gun and he can’t return to work. He will need to return to Cleveland County for court appearances.

We’re working on getting more details on the case. Check back for updates.

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