David Wayne Gore of Wilmington was found guilty Thursday of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a man in a lumber yard in Kelly in 2017.
Gore, 57, who is the owner of Gore Marine in Wilmington, had been charged with murder. A sentencing hearing is expected to be held Friday in Bladen County Superior Court.
Gore was found guilty by a jury in the death of Allan Blanchard, 34, of Wilmington. The two had gotten into an altercation at an abandoned saw mill off NC 210 in Kelly on Dec. 23, 2017, over a stolen boat, authorities said.
According to the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, Gore came to Bladen County on Dec. 23, 2017 looking for the boat. The boat, which was valued at $200,000, had been reported stolen from Gore’s business on Dec. 17, 2017.
According to the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, on Dec. 23, Gore was following up on a tip the boat had been spotted near Bladen County on NC 210. Gore had stopped at an old saw mill which was formerly operated by Squires Timber and was walking around it when he encountered Ryan Ciro Thau and Blanchard. Thau and Blanchard were reported to be loading scrap metal into a truck at the abandoned mill when Gore confronted them and an altercation ensued. During the altercation, Gore shot Blanchard, who was then airlifted from the scene to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington.
Blanchard later died from his injuries. Thau was not injured.
Related article:
https://bladencounty.org/wilmington-business-owner-sentenced-after-found-guilty-of-involuntary-manslaughter/
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