A teenager is killed in Catawba County and a Maiden man is charged in the case. According to WSOC, Justin Smith,19, was shot sitting in a recliner in his home. The Catawba County Sheriff's Office charged Jeffrey Douglas Brittain, 23, with the murder. Deputies stated that they believe a dispute may have started over a girl. Brittain is scheduled to appear in court today.

A Morganton man is charged with a sex offense. Morganton Department of Public Safety served a warrant Friday on Obed Morales Gabriel, 25. He was charged with felony statutory rape of a 13, 14 or 15 year old. Gabriel was placed in the Burke Catawba District Confinement Facility under a $100,000 secured bond with a District Court appearance in Morganton scheduled for today.

The Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton August unemployment rate was 4.2%, it was 3.7% in Asheville. Area county rates include Alexander at 3.7%, Avery 4%, Burke 4.3, Caldwell 4.5, Catawba 4.2, Lincoln 3.9 and McDowell at 4%. Buncombe County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state for August at 3.4%, with Scotland County having the highest unemployment rate at 7.7%.