Gastonia Woman Accidentally Shot By Police Talks About Incident

GASTONIA, N.C. – We are hearing from a Gastonia woman accidentally shot by police. Officers say her brother was holding a gun and refused to put it down before shots were fired.

Officers arrived on Gray Street in Gastonia around 11:30 after a noise complaint. Police say they found Lynn’s brother Jarvis, who had outstanding warrants, holding a gun and refusing to put it down.

Activist John Barnett, with True Healing Under God, says Lynn’s sister called out to police.

“She said I have kids in this house. And I’m coming out with my hands up. And yet a bullet still rang through the back door. Several bullets,” Barnett said.

Lynn was hit in the chest. She says four children were also in the house.

“My oldest.. she hasn’t really been sleeping like that. Constantly all day yesterday. I noticed that when she look at that back door, like staring in space, and then she’ll jump,” Lynn says.

Officer Stephen Whisnant is on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure.

“It’s very unfortunate for both families. Both the police department family and the young lady’s family,” says Chris Thomason, President of the Gastonia branch of the NAACP.

He says it’s a bad situation all around, but he’s glad Lynn survived.

“It is very concerning and heartbreaking when tragedies like this happen,” Thomason says.

Jarvis Lynn made his first appearance in Gaston County Court Tuesday afternoon. He faces several charges including Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and Resisting a Public Officer.

The family also claims Jarvis Lynn did not have a gun. They say he ran when he saw police in the neighborhood and went inside the house.