Gaffney man struck in head by stray bullet

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office investigators spent several hours in southwest Cherokee County on Tuesday afternoon after a young man was accidentally struck in the head by a bullet.

The victim, Tony Ray Mabry Jr., 25, of 112 Massey Drive, was flown by helicopter to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center from a landing zone set up behind Goucher Elementary School.

Cherokee County Sheriff Bill Blanton said although investigations were ongoing, the incident appeared to be an accident. Blanton said a man identified as Matthew Peterson, of 118 Massey Drive, was unloading a gun in his home when it accidentally discharged.

The bullet traveled out of Peterson's home and into 112 Massey Drive, where Mabry was either watching television or playing a video game when he was struck, Blanton explained.

Jimmy Lamb, chief of the Goucher White Plains Volunteer Fire Department, said members of his department immediately started patient care upon their arrival to get the victim stabilized as paramedics raced to the scene.

Because of election day activities at Goucher Elementary School, Lamb said firefighters could not use their normal emergency landing zone at the front of the school and had to land the helicopter at the rear of the school near a playground.

About nine members of his department either assisted at the shooting scene or at the landing zone.

Spartanburg Regional Medical Center officials could not be reached for immediate comment at press time for an update on Mabry's condition.

Investigations were ongoing and no charges have been filed.