Crime

Pawn shop gunsmith dead after accidental shooting in Johnston County, police say

A pawn shop gunsmith was killed last week after a customer accidentally shot them, the Benson Police Department said.
A pawn shop gunsmith was killed last week after a customer accidentally shot them, the Benson Police Department said. FILE IMAGE

A pawn shop gunsmith was killed last week after a customer accidentally shot him, the Benson Police Department said.

The shooting occurred around 11 a.m. Thursday at Kennedy’s Paradise Pawn on West Main Street, police said in a news release.

Officers arrived to find Trampas Penny, 44, had been shot “in an apparent accidental shooting involving a customer.”

The Benson Fire Department and Johnston County EMS also arrived on scene while another customer was doing CPR on Penny, but he did not survive, police said.

Penny was a gunsmith at the pawn shop, according to the news release.

Police are still investigating, and the Johnston County District Attorney’s Office will determine charges.

Tyler Douglas, a spokesperson for the town, declined to comment when asked whether the customer remained on scene after the shooting, citing the ongoing investigation.

He declined to say whether the customer is in police custody.

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This story was originally published January 31, 2022 at 3:01 PM with the headline "Pawn shop gunsmith dead after accidental shooting in Johnston County, police say."

JS
Julian Shen-Berro
The News & Observer
Julian Shen-Berro covers breaking news and public safety for The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun.
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