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The wrong path leads to teenager's death

Michael Lamont Medley Jr., 19, already had a criminal record going back three years.

Any juvenile record he might have had before turning 16 is not available to the public.

He served time earlier this year at the Western Youth Institute in Morganton.

He apparently was not rehabilitated because yesterday he broke into a Walnut Street apartment occupied by 80-year-old Charles Haithcock -- who fatally shot Medley with a handgun.

Police and the DA's office will confer, but it's hard to imagine any likelihood that this won't be viewed as a clear case of self-defense by Mr. Haithcock.

You can't feel good about any situation where a young man loses his life, but who knows what might have happened to Mr. Haithcock had he not been armed and able to protect himself?

Unlucky for Medley, but he put himself on a destructive path.

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Posted by Doug Clark on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 9:14 am

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NC Girly

October 15, 2009 - 12:22 pm EDT

I have zero sympathy for Michael Medley. However, I have great sympathy for his family. With that said, if a person is willing to enter a home with intent to commit a crime while the homeowner is present it's fair to say that person has no problem with attacking or possibly killing someone. It's a shame a 19-year-old man is dead, but it's also a shame to live to be 80-years-old and be faced with the choice of taking another persons life to preserve your own. Folks need to understand that when pushed into a corner of a life and death situation people will react naturally to save their lives or family lives. If an intruder enters my home (which I pray to God it never happens) I'm fully prepared to defend my family! This case is a crystal clear case of self-defense. All the same there are no winners here, only sadness and loss.

Doug

October 15, 2009 - 12:33 pm EDT

Well said. Thanks for the comments.

Dogwood

October 15, 2009 - 5:44 pm EDT

Mr. Haithcock did not own a Lexus (stolen) and if he did he would not have left the motor running. 80 year old men are often up at 5 a.m. and do use lights and open their doors for fresh air. The creep saw an easy mark and the creep met his maker. Proximity area men worked hard all their lives and the creep never worked at all.