Here and there, the most gruesome news sadly reaches us. This is one such story: an entire family is dead after a man shot his girlfriend and two children, then took his own life.
The North Carolina man, Aschod Ewing-Meeks, 26, then set their family home on fire.
Surprising new footage is now emerging showing that the entire family had visited the local sheriff department just hours before the heinous crime took place.
Footage from April 18 has revealed that Ewing-Meeks, accompanied by girlfriend Ashton Brown, 26, as well as their two children walked into the Davie County Sheriff’s Office and asked to speak with a deputy. It was 12:11pm.
For unknown reasons, they didn’t make it past the reception desk, officials said.
“They were very vague about what they wanted,” Hartman said of Ewing-Meeks and Brown.
The receptionist requested their contact information and was apparently given an address belonging to Brown’s parents, rather than their own home address.
Just four minutes later, the family can be seen walking out. They never spoke to an officer, Fox 8 reported – nor is it clear why they left.
A Strange Series of Events
Just 20 minutes after the mysterious sheriff’s office visit, 911 received a call from Brown. According to authorities, she phoned from her car, asking to speak with an officer about “unspecified safety concerns.”
Facebook / Ashton Brown
An officer called back about 10 minutes later and spoke to Brown briefly before the call dropped or was ended. Brown reportedly told the officer that she was calling for her boyfriend and handed the phone to Ewing-Meeks, according to the department’s timeline.
Three further calls ensued, and the officer spoke directly to Ewing-Meeks, who reportedly claimed that “someone was following him.”
When the officer asked him to return to the sheriff’s office or to give him his location, he refused.
No solution was reached. The officer attempted to call twice more, but the calls went directly to voicemail.
A Tragedy Unfolds
It was just two hours after the strange sheriff’s office visit and concerning phone calls that Ewen-Meeks fatally shot his girlfriend as well as their two small children: 4-year-old Bella and 8-month-old Brixx.
“The dad then set the house on fire and turned the gun on himself,” Sheriff JD Hartman from Davie County said at a press briefing.
Just 15 minutes before the house was aflame, a neighbor had witnessed the couple arguing in front of their home.
FOX8 WGHP
“All four victims are deceased from gunshot wounds, the fire was intentionally set and Mr. Meeks was deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and we found the gun that matches all this actually still in Mr. Meeks’ hand,” Hartman said.
Only after putting out the fire was the extent of the carnage clear, and the bodies were removed from the home. Sheriff Hartman said it was one of the worst crimes he had seen in his entire career.
“I’ve seen a lot in 30 years but children, and especially children that are killed by gunshots and burned, is pretty heinous,” Hartman said.
I am speechless at this most awful story, aren’t you? May the poor souls of Brown, Bella and Brixx rest in peace!
