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Intruders assault Ensley Street couple
By Carey Phillips
The Sylva Police Department is investigating the assault of two people during a home invasion on Ensley Street last Thursday morning, May 6.
Injured in the incident were Jonathan Wilson, a 22-year-old Western Carolina University student, and his girlfriend, Julie Mann, also 22.
Wilson was admitted to Mission Hospitals in Asheville where he was treated for a fractured skull, according to his mother, Deborah Bridges. Mann was treated and released at Harris Regional Hospital.
Bridges said a sawed off shotgun was used in the assault.
The parents of the victim are offering a $3,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the two people involved in the assault.
Police Chief Jeff Jamison said the suspects are two black men, both around 20 years old. One was described as 5-9, 160 pounds with short hair and a day’s growth of beard. He was wearing a white T-shirt with a silver logo and dark jeans. The other man was described as 5-11, 150 pounds also with short hair and a day’s growth of beard. He was wearing a green shirt and dark jeans.
The men may have been traveling in an older model green Ford Explorer, Jamison said. Two people fitting their descriptions were seen in the area earlier in that type vehicle.
The incident occurred shortly before 5 a.m. when the suspects broke into Wilson’s apartment while he and Mann were asleep, Jamison said. The apartment is located in a large house that was a private residence and has been converted into apartments.
Jamison said the attack appeared to be totally random.
“We have been unable to establish any connection thus far between the victims and the suspects,” he said.
Neighbors drove the victims to the Police Department shortly after the assault took place, Jamison said. Wilson was bleeding from the head and had duct tape around his neck, and Mann was bleeding from the face, according to the chief.
Wilson’s mother said her son already had his phone disconnected as he was preparing to move out for the summer, and the suspects stole two cell phones leaving them with no phone in the apartment.
Other items taken from the apartment included a large container of change, a navy blue LL Bean backpack with the initials JEM, a green North Face backpack, an X-Box and a number of video games, Bridges said.
Bridges drove to Sylva on Saturday from her Gaston County home to put up fliers announcing the reward. She was extremely pleased with the reception she received.
“The people in that town are so kind,” she said. “It was a really good experience in making me feel I was doing something positive. Not one person was not kind and gracious. I felt such a loving reaction from the people in that community. I hope no other parent ever in the world has to go through something like that.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the Police Department at 586-2916. Detective Shannon Ashe is in charge of the investigation.
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