Canton Man Sentenced to More than 6 Years
Buncombe County -- Buncombe County District Court: Zachary Desmond Stewart, 29, of Canton, entered a guilty plea on October 27, 2024, to two counts:
Felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon with the Intent to Kill, felony Discharge of a Firearm into an Occupied Moving Vehicle, and felony Possession of Firearm by Felon.
On September 30, 2023, a single shot was fired at a southbound vehicle carrying a driver and a passenger on I-26 close to mile marker 39, prompting law officers to respond.
The victim-driver saw Stewart driving aggressively prior to the incident and took out her cell phone to record Stewart's behavior. In addition to showing Stewart operating the vehicle, the footage also showed Stewart shooting at the victim's automobile from within it.
Several miles from the scene of the incident, Stewart was taken into custody by the Henderson County Sheriff's Office following a collision in Henderson County. A.380 handgun was found in Stewart's car and taken away when he was arrested.
Stewart's actions did not result in any physical harm to anyone. Stewart had already been convicted of felonies related to drugs.
It is illegal for convicted felons to own weapons in North Carolina.
The sentence was approved after consultation with the victims.
WNCTimes