COVID-19 UPDATE

The week began on a sad note as Burke County Public Health reported the 163^rd COVID-19 related death Monday afternoon.

The person was in their 60’s and was hospitalized.

Burke now reports a total of 10-thousand-258 total cases of the virus; 16 additional positives since Friday.

Figures indicate 224 of those cases remain active, while 6 Burke residents remain in the hospital.

McDowell County again reported a single new case of the virus for a total of 5-thousand-140 positives.

20 people in McDowell are in quarantine.

Burke Shooting

A man was airlifted following an early Monday morning shooting in Connelly Springs.

Reports from the Burke County Sheriff’s Office say just after 3:30 deputies responded to Highway 18 South and Camp Meeting Road to find a white male suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.

The man had reportedly been shot at another location.

According to the sheriff’s office, the shooter had left the scene of the incident prior to officers’ arrival.

No word yet on the victim’s condition. The Criminal Investigation Division is investigating.

Anyone having information about the shooting is urged to call local investigators at 764-9505.

Arsonist

After a home is burned in Marion, a suspect is charged with arson and animal cruelty.

According to reports, on May 12^th fire destroyed the residence on Veterans Drive and killed a dog inside the house.

An investigation led authorities to 50-year-old Christopher Jerome Conley of East Wilhemina Street, an acquaintance to the victim.

Conley was charged with second-degree arson and cruelty to animals.