#1 Men attempt robbery; one shot dead by victim
Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 10:29 am
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Now taking bets: Was the assault rifle actually an assault rifle? Betting open, current odds 5:1 against. :PMen Attempt Robbery, Woman Shoots One Dead, Deputies Say
POSTED: 1:40 pm EDT May 23, 2008
UPDATED: 3:58 pm EDT May 23, 2008
MOUNT GILEAD, N.C. -- A woman who was awakened Friday morning to two men trying to ram a van through the front door of her business shot and killed one of the men, Montgomery County deputies said.
Deputies said the two men had robbed a motel in Troy earlier before driving to a Mount Gilead coffee shop and attempting to rob it.
That's when deputies said Bouaphan Chanthunom, 51, opened fire with an assault rifle, instantly killing Joseph Murphy McRae, 36, of Mount Gilead.
The other suspect, Jeffery Ray Liles, 36, fled from the scene but was later arrested at his residence. He was not injured and is being held in the Montgomery County Jail on charges of first-degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and injury to real property.
Deputies said Chanthunom and her family own the coffee shop and also use it as a residence.
Liles and McRae had been under investigation for other crimes in the area.
No charges will be filed against Chanthunom.