The area around a Gastonia home is shown after Pamala Shanks was fatally struck by gunfire Monday afternoon. (Gastonia Police)
GASTONIA, N.C. - A North Carolina woman was fatally struck by a stray bullet while sitting on her backyard porch Monday afternoon, investigators said.
Dig deeper:
Pamala Shanks, 68, was hit around 4:30 p.m. at a home on Hillgate Avenue in Gastonia, according to police. Investigators have not determined where the gunfire originated.
Police respond to a Gastonia, North Carolina, home where a woman was killed by a stray bullet while sitting on her back porch. (Gastonia Police)
What they're saying:
"She was on her (back) porch and not the intended target of the gun violence," police said in an Oct. 19 news release. "No arrests have been made; Detectives are continuing their very robust investigation."
Authorities investigate the scene where a 68-year-old woman was fatally struck by a stray bullet in Gastonia, North Carolina. (Gastonia Police)
Big picture view:
Maps show Shanks’ elevated back porch faces Laurel Lane, which is bordered by apartment and townhome communities. A lot with playground equipment is located directly across from the porch.
Gastonia is about 20 miles west of uptown Charlotte.
The Source: The information in this story came from a Gastonia Police Department news release issued Oct. 19. Details about the shooting, the victim’s identity and the investigation were provided by police, while map data was used to describe the surrounding area. This story was reported from Los Angeles.