Self-defense
cited in highway shooting
By JOE DEPRIEST
Monday, August 21, 2000
http://www.charlotte.com/observer/
GASTONIA --
A Charlotte man said he acted in self-defense when he shot a motorcycle rider
who chased him down U.S.321 in Gastonia on Saturday afternoon.
Dennis Warden said he tried to get away, but
the man approached his truck when it stopped at a light at the intersection of
Rankin Lake Road.
"He was all right until he opened my truck door to jerk me out," said
Warden, 63. "That's when I shot him."
The injured man, Dennis Gantt, was in the
hospital Sunday and unavailable for comment. His family declined comment.
Gantt, whose age and address weren't available,
suffered a chest wound from a .22-caliber handgun. He was listed in good
condition late Sunday at Gaston Memorial Hospital.
No charges had been filed Sunday, and
authorities said they were turning over the case to Gaston District Attorney
Mike Lands.
Warden said he was headed home after a day of
playing golf at Briarcreek Golf Club near High Shoals, where he is a member.
Coming down the ramp at the Hardin Road exit
onto U.S.321, Warden said, he spotted several motorcycle riders headed in the
same direction.
"I passed them on the right," he
said. "I think that's what ticked them off. I put a CD in my player and was
opening a cigar when all of a sudden two riders were beside me shaking their
fists and hollering for me to pull over."
For about 9 miles "I ran for my
life," Warden said. "One pulled in front of me and tried to stop me.
He hit me twice."
Warden said he sometimes ran up to 100mph.
"I was trying to get to the police
station," he said.
When Warden stopped at the traffic signal, he
said, a rider got off his motorcycle, approached his truck and threatened him.
"I shot in self defense," Warden
said. "I'm hate it happened. I'm not a vigilante. "
Reach Joe DePriest at (704) 868-7745 or jdepriest@charlotteobserver.com.
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