27-year-old Hendersonville man accused of killing father, uncle
Police say a Hendersonville man has confessed to shooting and killing two family members at the home they shared Sunday, Nov. 21.
Garrett Robert Eley, 27, is accused of killing his father, Stephen Robert Eley, 60, and his uncle, Brian Eugene Eley, 57, at their home at 39 Beaumont Drive.
During a press conference Monday, Nov. 22, Sheriff Lowell Griffin said an “unusual 911 call” came in shortly after 9:30 p.m. Sunday. The caller was Garrett Eley, who reported that two men were deceased in the house and later confessed to the killings, Griffin said.
Garrett Eley is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree kidnapping. No bond was immediately set.
A high-powered rifle was used in close proximity to the victims, Griffin said. He added that the suspect appeared “eerily and completely calm” during the 911 call.
Garrett Eley was initially hesitant to admit to the shootings when the 911 dispatcher first asked if he came home and found the two men deceased in the house, according to the 911 call recording.
“...I am not sure, I am very new to this. I am not really sure how this process works,” Garrett Eley told the dispatcher. “...I’m not sure if this is a matter of you know, the Fifth Amendment kind of thing, but I'd rather do that.”
He then confirmed for the 911 dispatcher that he was there when the shootings occurred.
“Did you just come home and find them deceased?” the dispatcher asked.
“Um, no,” Garrett Eley replied.
“Were you there when this happened?”
“Yes,” Garrett Eley said.
“Okay, who shot who?” the dispatcher asked.
Garrett Eley then paused and sighed before stating “Um, I shot them both.”
He also told the dispatcher he placed his grandparents in the bathroom during the incident, and had no plans to hurt them.
“I escorted them (to) the bathroom and used a chair to keep them there while I got my head sorted out,” Garrett Eley said.
“I have no intention of hurting them. I never did,” he said later in the call. The grandparents were taken to Pardee Hospital for evaluation. No injuries have been reported.
Garrett Eley made the 911 call from his father’s bedroom, and told the dispatcher his father was in the garage and that he had covered his body with a sheet. His uncle, also deceased, was in his bedroom, Garrett Eley told the dispatcher.
He estimated the shootings happened a couple of hours before he made the 911 call.
During the call, GarrettEley did not provide specific details for his motive or the events that led up to the shooting. He did tell the dispatcher it was a “very long story, with lots of death threats back and forth between each other throughout the years,” adding that it all “kind of blew up tonight.”
Griffin said he was not aware of prior calls about domestic disturbances at the home.
Garrett Eley, the two victims and the grandparents all lived at the residence, according to Griffin. The home is owned by the grandparents.
Griffin concluded Monday’s press conference by highlighting the senselessness of the crimes and encouraging the community to reach out for help before resorting to violence.
“There is no reason for this type of senseless violence. This is a complete tragedy that is going to ripple throughout this family,” Griffin said. “In my years in law enforcement I’ve seen way too much of needless, senseless violence.
“...I just ask that our folks in Henderson County, should they encounter any situation that they believe is too difficult for them to navigate before they turn to violence they give us a call because we will set them up with the proper counseling, we will provide the proper resources. There absolutely no reason for this type of incident.”
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the case.
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Sheriff's Office: 2 dead in apparant domestic homicide in Hendersonville
