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Robbery hospitalizes three; deputies shoot suspect
Also see Timeline: From crime scene to death of suspect McCollum
By Justin Goble
 An armed robbery in Cullowhee led to three injured victims and a suspect dead after a confrontation with law enforcement officers nine hours later.
According to Jackson County Sheriff Jimmy Ashe, the assailant, Dewann Christopher McCollum, entered China Dragon restaurant on old N.C. 107 armed with what authorities believe was a .22 caliber pistol at approximately midnight Monday (Nov. 14).
The 32-year-old suspect demanded money from the register and ordered the two employees working in the dining room to get on the floor. During this time the suspect attempted to sexually assault employee Becky Lin.
Three more employees were working in the kitchen area, and came into the dining room in an attempt to get the assailant to leave, Ashe said. At that point a confrontation ensued, and the gunman began firing randomly, hitting owner Qi Lin. Employees Jie Lin and Cai Bolin were also struck by gunfire. Though specifics are scarce, it is known that one of the wounded was hit twice in the chest, one was struck in the abdomen and one in the thigh.
Despite his wounds, the owner of the restaurant tried to pursue the assailant but collapsed in the parking lot, Ashe said.
“The gunman knelt down and pilfered through the owner’s pockets,” Ashe said. “During this time, one uninjured man (Youle Lin) ran for help. The gunman pursued. Eventually, the pursuit was given up and the suspect fled towards Western Carolina University.”
Jackson County Sheriff Jimmy Ashe, top, coordinates operations Tuesday morning (Nov. 15) outside the China Dragon in Cullowhee. The Chinese restaurant was the scene of early morning shootings that sent three employees to Mission Hospitals in Asheville. Later on Tuesday morning, the Sheriff’s Emergency Tactical Team entered an apartment where the suspect, 32-year-old Dewann Christopher McCollum, was hiding. Officers fatally wounded McCollum, who came out of a closet brandishing a knife. Conferring with SBI agents (bottom photo) near the restaurant are District Attorney Mike Bonfoey, second from right, and Assistant District Attorney Roy Wijewickrama, third from right. – Herald photos by Nick Breedlove
A witness, who asked to remain unidentified, claimed to be first on the scene.
“There were a lot of people yelling for help,” the witness said. “It was shocking, especially for around here.”
A passer-by called dispatch at approximately 12:10 a.m. Tuesday morning, Ashe said.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene, with WCU police arriving shortly afterwards. Two of the victims were airlifted to Mission Hospitals in Asheville, while the third was taken there by ambulance.
Of the five employees, two of the wounded are listed in critical condition at Mission, Ashe said. The other is in serious but stable condition. Youle Lin and Becky Lin were treated for minor injuries and released.
The victims’ identities were not released until Tuesday evening. Ashe said that the names would not be released before the families were notified, and locating them proved difficult since the employees did not speak English.
Authorities met with eyewitnesses and began investigating the scene during the early hours of Tuesday morning. Due to the language barrier and the nature of the employee’s injuries, which required immediate surgery, a description of the suspect was unavailable for the media to pass along to the community until approximately 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
State Bureau of Investigation forensic officers helped local law enforcement with investigation of the crime scene. District Attorney Mike Bonfoey was also on the scene.
The sheriff’s Crime Scene Response unit arrived at China Dragon at 9:29 a.m. to continue the investigation.
From there, action came much quicker. Ashe had called for the Sheriff’s Emergency Tactical Team earlier in the morning. Authorities had discovered McCollum’s location and were preparing to issue a search warrant of his premises, Ashe said. Information on how the location was discovered was unavailable due to a pending SBI investigation.
Eleven members of SETT arrived at China Dragon at 9:37 a.m dressed in full tactical gear and armed with M16 assault rifles and flashbang stun grenades, which emit a deafening noise and a blinding flash of light when detonated.
At approximately 9:41 a.m., SETT members converged on Moss Apartments off of Wayehutta Road to serve the warrant. The team’s initial search came up empty, but officers were notified by neighbors that McCollum might be in the adjacent apartment.
Using their flashbangs, six SETT members breached the second apartment at approximately 9:52 a.m. Ashe said McCollum threatened officers after jumping out of a closet brandishing a knife. Numerous rounds were fired, and after shooting ceased authorities called for a medic via radio. The suspect was then pronounced dead at the scene. His body was taken away by ambulance at 11:31 a.m.
In a press conference held Tuesday afternoon, Ashe said deputies were the first to fire during the confrontation.
“I felt the officers were placed in a situation where there was no other alternative,” Ashe said. “It’s unfortunate circumstances. We have three people (victims) injured and one person dead.”
SBI agents are conducting an independent investigation into the incident. Their involvement is standard procedure when officers kill a suspect, Ashe said.
Ashe said Wednesday morning he did not know if a gun was in the apartment as that issue is still being investigated by the SBI.
The weapon used in the robbery had not been found by Herald press time.
“We’re searching along river banks and anticipate bringing some divers in to look at the stretch of river we think he travelled,” Ashe said.
McCollum was wanted on cocaine charges by the Fayetteville Police Department, according to Ashe, who also said that no other charges were expected in the case.
Herald photographer Nick Breedlove and Assistant Editor Carey Phillips contributed to this report.
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