By Associated Press - Monday, April 4, 2016

WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) - A Castle Hayne man has been found not guilty of attempted murder after he was accused of trying to kill a New Hanover County sheriff’s deputy three years ago.

The StarNews of Wilmington (https://bit.ly/1RTMqc2 ) reports a jury on Friday found 26-year-old Darius Hester guilty of possession of a firearm, but not guilty of first-degree attempted murder.

Deputy Joshua Cranford says he stopped Hester in 2013, noticed a bulge in Hester’s shirt, and asked him to pull his shirt up. Cranford says Hester pulled out a gun, aimed it at him and pulled the trigger, with the gun clicking. Cranford then shot Hester as the suspect ran away.



Hester says he never pointed the gun at Cranford.

A district attorney in September 2013 determined that Cranford was justified in shooting Hester.

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Information from: The StarNews, https://starnewsonline.com

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