Shots Fired, Suspect Arrested in Rutherford County

Rutherford County -- July 5, 2024: Rutherford County Sheriff's Office Press Release: On Friday, June 28, 2024,

at approximately 8:20 p.m., Deputies from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division responded to Pine Knoll, a mobile home park located off of Hudlow Road in Forest City. 

The response was in reference to shots being fired. The victim stated an upset neighbor later identified as Carlos Hernandez-Gutierrez, had fired several rounds from a handgun outside the victim’s residence. While on the phone with 911, the dispatcher could hear the shots being fired in the background.

Deputies from C-Crew responded to the area and located a vehicle matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle parked outside of a mobile home on Brookside Drive. The vehicle was unoccupied.

Deputies evacuated residents from the immediate area of the suspect’s last known whereabouts.
After numerous failed attempts to make contact with the suspect, or anyone inside the mobile home, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office’s Special Response Team, “SERT” and the Sheriff’s Office’s Crisis Negotiation Team responded to the scene.
Information obtained by citizens lead to locating the suspect at a neighboring mobile home and Hernandez-Guiterrez was taken into custody without incident.

A search warrant was obtained for the property and for the vehicle of the suspect. A 9 millimeter semi automatic pistol was located during the search.
Further investigation revealed Carlos Hernandez-Gutierrez, has been fraudulently using an illegally obtained social security number during his time in the United States. Hernandez-Gutierrez is being held at the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Detention Center with no bond, on the following charges:

Misdemeanor - GOING ARMED TO THE TERROR OF PUBLIC
Misdemeanor - DISORDERLY CONDUCT
Misdemeanor - COMMUNICATING THREATS
Felony - IDENTITY THEFT
Felony - ALTER TITLE (3 COUNTS)

Officers with the Forest City Police Department, the Spindale Police Department, the Rutherfordton Police Department, Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and staff with the Rutherford County Communications Center provided valuable assistance with the operation.

A special thanks to members of the Cornerstone Baptist Church for allowing the facility and grounds to be used as a staging area and for a safe place the evacuated residents were able to stay until the scene was rendered safe.

Editor's Note:* A criminal charge is an accusation, by law, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven in a court of law.