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On Feb. 1, 2023, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a communicating threats at the barber academy located in the Cypress Commons Shopping Center located on Old Blount’s Creek Road in Chocowinity. It was determined the academy is operated through Beaufort County Community College.

Deputies responded and began an investigation. During the investigation, Detectives learned there was a verbal altercation between an instructor and a student and that after leaving the parking lot, the student fired multiple shots from a handgun while traveling west on Old Blount’s Creek Road.

No one was injured and no property was damaged during the incident. The investigation revealed that this incident was an isolated incident and there is no further threats or danger to the public at this time.

As a result of the investigation, Detectives charged Joseph McKinney, age 39, of Fowle Drive in Washington with one count of Possession of Firearm on School Grounds.

McKinney was taken into custody by Beaufort County Sheriff’s Deputies and taken before Magistrate Eric Holmes and held in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $10,000 secured bond. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending.