The Associated Press
WOLF LAUREL, N.C. — A 68-year-old man is facing a felony assault charge after allegedly shooting a Madison County paramedic while she was helping him out of a car.
Tami Stephen of Yancey County was shot once in the chest with a .22-caliber pistol late Sunday night. She’s in serious but stable condition at Mission Hospitals in Asheville.
Joseph Boyer Candler Junior of Wolf Laurel is charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury. He’s in the Madison County jail in lieu of $750,000 bond.
Emergency workers responding to a call from Wolf Laurel Country Club found that a man identified as Candler was intoxicated. His wife asked emergency workers to help her get him to their house.
Authorities say while he was being helped out of the vehicle, Candler pulled a pistol from his pants pocket and shot Stephen. A volunteer fireman grabbed the gun and restrained Candler before any more shots could be fired.