By james art Updated at 3:28 p.m. Nov. 1 to include that Elon’s assistant city manager was unable to comment on the situation.
Matthew Dillon Earnhardt, 23, of Winston-Salem, was arrested Nov. 1 and faces five felony charges — including discharging a firearm, concealing a weapon, possession of marijuana and related articles and making threats.
Elon Township Assistant Police Chief Kedrick King said he could not comment on the situation as of Nov. 1.
According to a statement from Elon Campus Police Chief Joe LeMire, Elon City Police officers responded to the area around the 300 block of West Lebanon Avenue around 1 a.m. after reports of shots fired. According to LeMire’s statement, “a person who is not an Elon student or affiliated with the university fired shots in the air near a residence after being denied entry to the home where a party was being held.”
At 1:41 a.m. on November 1, Ann Electronic alert reported shots fired in the area of Elon University. A follow-up message was sent at 1:54 a.m. saying law enforcement had “suspects in custody” and there were no further threats to campus.
Court documents show Earnhardt made threats to a person — identified by the Elon News Network as an Elon University student — by saying, “You’re going to be sorry,” and making a hand gesture indicating a gun.
According to LeMire’s statement, officers from the Elon Township Police Department, Gibsonville Police Department and Elon Campus Police located and stopped a vehicle believed to be involved and took the person suspected of the shooting into custody. According to court records, officers discovered Earnhardt was carrying a concealed .40-caliber Glock handgun without a permit. He was also found in possession of more than half an ounce of marijuana, along with a glass jar used to store the substance.
Earnhardt was being held on a $5,000 secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in Alamance District Court on Jan. 8.