COVID-19 UPDATE

The Burke County Health Department is urging those 65 and older and health care workers who have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine to schedule an appointment.

Officials say the county’s vaccination team is trying to finish scheduling for the 65 and older group and health care before the next group is opened for scheduling.

Beginning tomorrow, vaccination scheduling will begin for educators and other school employees.

Public Health workers urge those then 65 or older or health care workers who have not yet been vaccinated to call for an appointment at 828-764-9184 by 9 am tomorrow.

Burke County added 24 positive cases to its total since Saturday, with a current total of 9-thousand-365 cases.

598 cases are active with 8 hospitalized.

McDowell County reports 25 new cases Monday bringing the total to 4-thousand-634.

136 individuals remain quarantined.

McDowell Shooting

An officer-involved shooting early Monday morning in McDowell County results in the death of a suspect, and a deputy injured.

A news release states during a vehicle stop in the Nebo community, gunshots were exchanged between a sheriff’s deputy and occupants of the vehicle.

Following the incident, one suspect died, another suspect was taken into custody, and the officer was transported to an area hospital where he was treated and released.

The deceased was identified as 30-year-old CJ Adams of Nebo, with the arrest made of 39-year-old David Hylemon of Marion, charged with Accessory After the Fact of Attempted Murder, with a bond of $200,000.

The NC State Bureau of Investigation is handling the investigation into the incident.

Along with the McDowell Sheriff’s Office and SBI, the DA’s office, McDowell Emergency Management, the State Highway Patrol, and Marion Police also assisted in the case.

Lincoln County Assault

A Lincoln County woman is facing assault charges following a Sunday morning stabbing incident.

Deputies responded to the reported altercation in Iron Station and found a victim, identified as Marcus McDowell with a stab wound to the chest.

Reports say the assailant had left the scene, but returned a short time later while officers were still on the scene.

The suspect, 27-year-old Jasmine Louise McClain was charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.

She was placed in custody under a no bond hold.

McDowell was transported to an area hospital.

While McClain was being processed into the jail, reports say she blew into the face of the processing officer twice after admitting she had tested positive for COVID-19.

She was then charged with assault on a government official and given an additional 5-thousand dollar secured bond.