Full Notification

In the early evening hours of 24 October, the Spindale Police Department responded to a shooting incident on Burgin Street here in our city. Residents advised of hearing gunshots in the area and someone calling for help. Witnesses observed a white male run from a wooded area to a nearby residence on Hollins Street just after hearing the the gunshots.

Upon arrival Spindale Officers found Dereese Miller, 18 of Spindale in a wooded area adjacent to Burgin Street suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg and hip. Miller was transported to Rutherford Regional Medical Center where he was stabilized and later transported to Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville for further treatment. He was listed in stable condition at last notification. Officers attempted to interview the victim both at the scene as well as at the hospital; however Miller was uncooperative.

Further investigation by Officers identified the subject running from the scene as Spindale resident Tyler Bunch also 18. Officers attempted to communicate with Bunch who had entered the residence but would not answer the door or telephone. Officers obtained a search warrant for the Hollins Street residence, made entry and took Bunch into custody without incident. When interviewed, Bunch admitted that he and Miller had entered the wooded area to fire a handgun. After Miller fired into the air once, a neighbor called to the boys to stop firing. Bunch ran from the scene leaving Miller in the wooded area. Miller attempted to return the handgun to the waistband of his trousers when it discharged striking him in the leg and hip area.

Bunch assisted Officers in a search of the area where the shooting occured. A Colt model 1911 .45 caliber pistol was recovered from the wooded area. The handgun had been stolen from a residence in Rutherford County a day or so before the shooting; however it is unclear at this point how Miller came into posession of the weapon.
Investigation into the incident will continue by both the Spindale Police Department and the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office.