Two Burke County residents were reportedly injured after being assaulted by an individual wielding a machete in Iredell County. According to a news release from the Statesville Police Department, at approximately 12:30 p.m. Thursday (September 7), the agency received a 911 call reporting an incident near Pump Station Road.

When they arrived at the scene, officers discovered two individuals, a 28-year-old woman and 35-year-old man, both from Morganton, suffering from multiple lacerations. The victims were transported to Baptist Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The two individuals are homeless and have been residing in the wooded area behind the City of Statesville Water Treatment Plant at the end of Pump Station Road.

The victims informed authorities that they were involved in an altercation with another individual, a 71-year-old man, who is also living in the same wooded area. During the altercation, the man allegedly struck both victims with a machete. Officers immediately initiated a search of the area and found a witness who had observed the incident.

According to the witness, all three individuals were engaged in a physical altercation, during which the suspect sustained lacerations to his leg and hand from the same machete. Despite the search efforts, the suspect was not located in the wooded area. The preliminary investigation indicates that the altercation appears to be an isolated dispute concerning an area where the suspect was camping.

As a precautionary measure, Northview Academy and Statesville Christian School were placed on lockdown. There was never an immediate danger or threat to either of the schools. The Statesville Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit is conducting an investigation into this incident and urges anyone with additional information to contact Statesville Police at 704-878-3515.