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By Tammy Dunn, Montgomery Herald

Two juveniles, a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old, charged in the murder of 21-year-old Dawson Thompson of Mt. Gilead had their first appearance in District Court Sept. 7 via video from their individual juvenile holding locations. The pair are not being held at the same location. Appointed attorneys for the juveniles are Chris Purkey and Stacey Fulcher of Stanly County; however, mothers of the juveniles stated they intended to hire attorneys to represent their sons.
Assistant District Attorney Arthur Donadio gave a brief overview of the case stating that on Sept. 2, Thompson left his job at Ingles in Albemarle at approximately 5:15 p.m. and traveled to a location in Mt. Gilead where he picked up the two juveniles. Video shows that one of the individuals was carrying a long rifle inside his pants and the other was carrying a pistol.
Donadio said the state believes the three traveled to the intersection of Fairview Farm and Zion Church Road intersection. They believe the juvenile in the passenger seat shot Thompson while he was still inside the vehicle. When Thompson attempted to flee, he was shot multiple times by the pair.
The juveniles then took Thompson’s vehicle, a 2011 Honda, and fled the area, leaving Thompson lying in the road. A short time later a passerby found Thompson’s body in the road around 6 p.m.
Donadio explained that detectives used the app 360 Live that the Thompson family used to keep in touch with each other’s location, to track Thompson’s recent movements, leading them to the suspects.
On Tuesday evening detectives took the two juveniles into custody following the discovery of Thompson’s vehicle in a field at the end of Williams Street in Mt. Gilead. The vehicle had been set on fire.
Attorneys for both men asked that they be moved to a closer location; however, District Court Judge John Nance denied that request as well as a request to turn the 14-year-old over to his mother, with electronic monitoring in place. In opposing that request Donadio said the mother had already filed a petition that she was unable to make her son abide by the rules in another matter. Donadio said the juvenile was a danger to people, to the community and should remain in custody.