WHITTIER, N.C. — A North Carolina man that had been arrested for attempted kidnapping on the Blue Ridge Parkway was formally charged by a grand jury in Charlotte, according to Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Evan William Blankenship of Whittier has been charged with kidnapping, two counts of assault with intent to commit a felony, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm, and possession and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
The affidavit filed with the criminal complaint says two victims were sitting in a parked vehicle at Water Rock Knob Overlook off the Blue Ridge Parkway early on Sept. 28 when the 22-year-old is accused of driving up to the victims and pointing a semi-automatic pistol at them.
Blankenship then tried to pull one of the victims out of their vehicle by the hair and arm, officials said. He is also accused of threatening to hurt both victims, and allegedly hit one victim in the face, causing temporary hearing loss. Additionally, he is accused of firing his gun into the air before pointing it at the victims again.
The affidavit alleges one victim eventually convinced Blankenship to let the two go, then the victims contacted law enforcement. One of the victims told authorities she knew Blankenship through Snapchat, and believed he used the app's location sharing feature to find her.
He was arrested on Oct. 11 and is still in federal custody.
His kidnapping charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, while each charge for assault carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, and each charge of possession and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence has a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison.
Blankenship has not been sentenced yet; his actual sentence will be determined by a court based on federal sentencing guidelines. The United States Attorney’s Office Western District of North Carolina stressed these charges are allegations, and Blankenship is considered innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.