Jadyn McNeill, 23, from Rockingham, North Carolina, is currently fighting for his life after being shot by his white neighbor, William Griffin, who believed Jadyn was attempting to break into his home. According to Jadyn’s family, he had gone to pray with Griffin, who shot at him seven times through the door, hitting him with five bullets.
No charges have been filed against the 72-year-old Griffin for the shooting that occurred on August 22 on McDonald Church Rd. Jadyn’s father, Charles McNeill, stated that the two families have lived across the street from each other for eight years and that Jadyn intended to pray for Griffin that morning.
“He is conscious. He is a resilient young man,” McNeill told reporters , adding, “It was on his mind to try to spread the good news.”
7 shots through the door
Reports from WSOC-TV indicate that Jadyn was shot in the chest, stomach, arm, and hand, but was still standing when his father reached him.
“My son was still standing, whenever I got across the street to him, with his hands up to this guy,” McNeill told reporters.
Homeowner believed Jadyn was trying to break-in
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, which responded to the incident, noted that Griffin thought Jadyn was trying to break into his house, prompting him to fire several shots to scare him off. The press release mentioned that Jadyn allegedly continued to attempt to enter Griffin’s home, leading to more shots being fired.
When the first deputy arrived, they found “a male [Jadyn] standing at the caller’s front door and appeared to be suffering from gunshot wounds.” The release further read that Jadyn was laid on the ground and received first aid from the deputy until paramedics arrived.
An attorney for Jadyn’s family said he did knock on the door.
“Our information indicates that he knocks on the door,” said their attorney, Carnell Johnson. “According to the family, there was no kicking or trying to break down the door.”
Rockingham shooting bears similarities to two recent incidents involving gunfire through a door
This unsettling event brings to mind two recent incidents involving white homeowners firing shots through their doors. In Kansas City, Missouri, 84-year-old Andrew Lester shot Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager, in the back of the head after Yarl accidentally rang his doorbell.
Meanwhile, in Ocala, FL, a 60-year-old woman, Susan Lorincz, was found guilty of manslaughter for fatally shooting her Black neighbor, Ajike “AJ” Owens, through her door.
Jadyn’s case is being reviewed by the Richmond County district attorney’s office for charges.
