Police say a violent altercation between employees at Sanderson Farms in Kinston, North Carolina left one worker seriously injured after investigators say a co-worker pistol-whipped him during an assault that now has the suspect sitting in the Lenoir County Jail facing multiple felony charges with no bond.
According to the Kinston Police Department, officers were first alerted on February 17 after UNC Lenoir Health Care contacted them about a victim who showed up with serious injuries following an assault at Sanderson Farms.
Police Chief Keith Goyette told reporters the victim’s wounds were consistent with being pistol-whipped — meaning someone allegedly used a gun as a weapon during the attack.
After launching an investigation, detectives say they identified 32-year-old Tyler Simpson of Greenville as the suspect.
Authorities confirmed that both Simpson and the victim worked at the chicken processing plant. Investigators eventually tracked Simpson down at the same chicken plant, where he was taken into custody.
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Police say Simpson is now facing multiple felony charges, including:
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Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Injury
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Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (two counts)
Investigators also executed a search warrant on Simpson’s vehicle, where they say they located a firearm believed to have been used in the assault.
Simpson is currently being held at the Lenoir County Jail and is being held without bond.
Meanwhile, police have not publicly released details about what led up to the alleged violent confrontation between the two co-workers.
