BESSEMER CITY, NC — A 29-year-old Gastonia man now faces a murder charge after the victim of an assault Friday died over the weekend.
Police say 22-year-old Garrett Abernathy died Saturday evening from injuries sustained during an assault around 11pm Friday. Scottie Blanton was arrested for the incident around 6am Saturday and initially charged with one count of Attempted Murder. That charge has now been upgraded to one count of 2nd Degree Murder.
According to reports, police were called to CMC Lincoln where they found Abernathy suffering from “serious blunt force injuries stemming from an assault.” He was transferred to CMC Main in Charlotte for treatment, but later died.
Officials say Blanton remains in the Gaston County Jail under a $500,000 bond, and no other suspects are being sought.
The investigation into what caused the assault is still under investigation, detectives say. Anyone with information is asked to call Gaston County PD at 704-866-3320 or Crime Stoppers at 704-861-8000.
