911 call released after reported chainsaw thief shot in head

TAYLORSVILLE, NC (WBTV) - Investigators released the 911 call made after a store clerk reportedly shot a man in the head after he tried to steal a chainsaw from his father's Taylorsville store. The District Attorney is deciding if any charges will be filed against the clerk.

The incident happened on Thursday, April 23, at Beasley's Power Equipment on Highway 16. Officials say a man ran out of the store with a chainsaw and got into a vehicle, which then started driving away.

Police said the store owner's son ran out of the store after the man and fired two shots at the vehicle. One of those shots hit the driver of the car, identified Monday as Marshall Scott Evans, in the head.

The 911 call seems to suggest that the clerk then got into a vehicle and followed the men.

"I am in pursuit of a vehicle who stole a chainsaw from Beasley Power Equipment," the caller tells the dispatcher.

The store owner's son goes on to tell the dispatcher that he showed the men a gun before firing.

"I did show them my pistol, they still took off in a vehicle. I did shoot the window out. One of them is hit," he can be heard telling the dispatcher.

He then describes the vehicle and the direction they are going. He tells dispatch that he is "about five car lengths behind them."

"Did they present a gun to you... or are you the owner of the store?" the dispatcher asks the caller.

"No," the caller replies, "I'm the owner. I saw them take off, I tried to catch them and they decided they wanted to run. They both saw it."

The car, which had pulled over a few hundred yards away while the passenger and Evans switched seats, began heading down Highway 16, where they were stopped by police.

Evans was taken to Carolinas Medical Center in serious condition. Monday, Evans remained in the intensive care unit. Two other men in the car, 34-year-old Jonathan Andrew Akers and 50-year-old Bobby Dean Pearson were arrested and charged with felony larceny.

WBTV was there as the two men were taken into police headquarters. Pearson had no comment. Akers said he had nothing to do with the incident.

"I was no part of it," Akers said. "Guy came out and shot the driver right in the head."

Police interviewed the clerk about the incident. They said the attempted robbery is similar to the theft of a chainsaw from a Morganton store on Wednesday.

The matter has been turned over to the District Attorney's office.

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