GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — The man accused of shooting a Kings Mountain police officer earlier this month made his first appearance in Gaston County court Tuesday morning and was given a $750,000 bond.
Antonio Cortez Anthony, 30, is charged with attempted first-degree murder, assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon in connection with the shooting of officer Frank Whittington Jr. on Dec. 19.
Anthony was released from a Gastonia hospital on Dec. 26 and was booked into the Gaston County Jail before Tuesday's court appearance.
The shooting happened just after 8 p.m. when Kings Mountain Police responded to a report of a suspicious person on the porch of a home on Downing Drive. Chief Lisa Proctor said the suspect ran toward the Kings Mountain Country Club, but investigators weren't sure what led to the shooting.
Outside the Cleveland County Courthouse Tuesday morning, Anthony's mother, Doshawunda Nelson, said her son has serious mental health issues.
"He is not a bad child," Nelson said. "He is just mentally sick, and he needs help."
She said over the past year, she's admitted him to an out-of-state treatment program, and she said medication has helped him, but on Dec. 18, she said her son wasn't taking his medication.
"He wanted some money to get back to New York, and I was begging him no, let me get him help,'" Nelson said. "So he [saw] me push my [Lifeline] button to call for the police and the ambulance so I can get him to the hospital, but he took the coat and ran."
She said she didn't hear from Anthony until the police came to her door the next day after the shooting.
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Officer Whittington has been with Kings Mountain Police for 13 years. Chief Proctor said Whittington is expected to make a full recovery after undergoing surgery.
In an emailed statement to WCNC Charlotte, Chief Proctor said:
"My officer Cpl. Whittington is recovering and has a very long road ahead of him. He is still in pain at times but is progressing daily. He is in good spirits and told me today that he holds “no ill will toward the shooter and has forgiven him.” Cpl. Whittington says “we must be willing to forgive as Christ has forgiven us”.
I, Chief Proctor, know that those words seem strange to many but we will never heal as individuals, as a City, State or Nation until we learn to come together and truly care for one another even in the most difficult situations. I do not know what caused Mr. Anthony to shoot Cpl. Whittington but I thank God that he is still here and progressing daily. We are so thankful that we did not have to plan another funeral for another hometown hero as we all have seen with the tragic killings of Officer Tyler Herndon of Mt Holly Police and Officer Jason Shuping of Concord Police.
Either way regardless of circumstances, the shooting of our Officers has to stop. It’s also long past time that our leaders from the Statehouse to Washington stop putting politics first and start putting the needs of the people first all people and that includes our law enforcement officers.
It’s time to stop making those who serve and protect and are willing to lay down their life for strangers, look like monsters themselves. We all are human and we all have families. Some just are called by God to serve others in the capacity of law enforcement.
If Mr. Anthony has mental issues, we hope that he gets the help needed as we all continue to move forward. He has family as well and we have no ill will toward them and hope that they receive what they need to help in their healing.
Our mental health system in this county is broken and has been for some time now. It’s long past time for those in positions from the State House level to Washington to fix our mental health system and give our mental health workers the resources they need to treat long-term mental Heath issues. I've seen first hand how many Individuals need long term mental health treatment and can’t get it. This is something that needs immediate attention in this State and across our Nation.
Please continue to lift up all our law enforcement officers in your prayers as we continue to try to heal from this devastating situation."
During a news conference shortly after the Dec. 19 shooting, Chief Proctor described the sacrifices her officers make every day.
"We are very thankful that he is still alive and that we're not planning funeral number three in the last week and a half for another law enforcement officer," Chief Proctor said.
Whittington was the fourth Charlotte-area officer to be shot in the line of duty in the last week and a half. Two of those officers have died due to their injuries: Officer Jason Shuping with the Concord Police Department, and Officer Tyler Herndon with the Mount Holly Police Department.
"It's insane. This is insane, what law enforcement is having to put up with and deal with now, more than ever, it's kind of hard to talk about," Chief Proctor said. "Because no one, and I mean no one, knows what it costs to put one of these badges on every morning knowing that as soon as you go out that front door you're an instant target."