HOFFMAN — A woman is fighting for her life after Richmond County sheriff’s deputies say her boyfriend shot her with a handgun early Sunday.
Karl Mathis Purcell, 54, is charged with attempted first-degree murder in the shooting of 35-year-old Rebecca Priest McPherson, which deputies say happened at the couple’s 143 Knight St. home around 12:28 a.m.
“They had some kind of domestic altercation in which he produced a firearm and shot her,” Chief Deputy Mark Gulledge said. “She suffered a gunshot wound and has life-threatening injuries.”
McPherson was rushed to FirstHealth Moore Regional Medical Center in Pinehurst for emergency care. Purcell, a convicted felon, was initially jailed on gun possession charges and deputies later charged him with attempted murder.
An arrest warrant states that Purcell tried to kill McPherson “with malice aforethought.” Gulledge said detectives are investigating the motive.
“Investigators have been interviewing individuals who might have information pertinent to this case,” he said Monday. “The investigation is ongoing at this time.”
With the victim and suspect in a dating relationship, Gulledge said the shooting calls attention to the tragic outcome of many domestic violence cases.
“If anyone knows people who are in relationships and they think there is domestic violence, please reach out to friends, law enforcement, anyone who can help so that hopefully it won’t get to this point,” Gulledge said.
Purcell faces three counts of possession of a firearm by a felon. Warrants state he was caught with a Norinco 9mm semi-automatic handgun, a Remington 12-gauge shotgun and a Norinco SKS 7.62 rifle.
N.C. Division of Adult Correction records show Purcell was convicted of felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury in Richmond County and felony breaking and entering in Moore County, both in the summer of 2005.
Purcell received suspended prison sentences and successfully completed the terms of his probation. As a felon, he is barred from owning or possessing firearms under North Carolina law.
Purcell was jailed without bond on the attempted murder charge and has a $100,000 secured bond on the firearm possession charges.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Reach Editor Corey Friedman at 910-817-2670 and follow him on Twitter @corey_friedman.
