Mother, two children killed in West Asheville shooting

ASHEVILLE — A 10-year-old boy made the 911 call. His mother had been killed, he told the dispatcher. He and several of his siblings also were injured.

Police arrived at the West Asheville home at 73 Hansel Ave. four minutes later. Erica Nichelle Smith, a 32-year-old mother of six, was dead. Less than 12 hours later, the late Wednesday shooting's death toll was up to four, including Smith's two teenage children and the suspected shooter.

Three of Smith's children also were injured.

Police say Smith's boyfriend, 35-year-old Maurice Garner, was the shooter. He was found near the home with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

More: West Asheville Shooting: Before triple murder, suicide, Maurice Garner lived private life

2 children killed, 3 injured

Family members on Thursday identified the two teenage victims as 15-year-old Keithan Whitmire and 13-year-old Harmony Smith. Both were transported to Mission Hospital, where they died from their injuries, police said.

Keithan was the nephew of former Asheville mayor Terry Bellamy, and attended Asheville High School. Harmony attended Asheville Middle.

Three other victims were taken to the hospital: a 12-year-old who sustained a gunshot to the leg, a 10-year-old and 8-year-old who sustained graze wounds. All were stable.

More: Family speaks: West Asheville shooting victims

Two of the children attend Isaac Dickson Elementary School and another attends a Buncombe County school, according to officials from both school districts.

The Citizen Times does not identify underage survivors of violent crimes.

The youngest of Smith's children, a 6-year-old boy, was not at the home during the shooting, police said.

Maurice Garner, Erica Smith argued before shooting, police said

Garner, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, does not have a criminal record with Asheville police. There is no known history of domestic violence between the couple, Police Chief Tammy Hooper said during a press conference Thursday.

Watch: West Asheville shooting press conference held by Police Chief Tammy Hooper

The couple were involved in a verbal altercation before the shooting at Mission Hospital, where Smith worked. Police spokeswoman Christina Hallingse said police only learned of the Mission altercation after the shooting. It wasn't reported to police.

The only previously known incident to police was when officers on April 5 responded to the Hansel Avenue home, when Smith reported that Garner took a car. The car, however, was registered to him and no crime was reported.

Smith was found dead about 10:31 p.m. Wednesday, when police arrived at the home.

Garner was transported to Mission, where he died.

Hooper said Garner was not the father of any of the children.

"We are shocked and saddened at the horrific events that took the lives of our friend and colleague Erica Smith and two of her children," said Rowena Buffett Timms, Mission's senior vice president of government and community relations. "This is an incredibly sad day for us at Mission and we grieve along with her loved ones and our community.

"As a Mission family, we commit ourselves to providing care and support to her surviving children through this terrible tragedy and beyond. We will continue to work with the Asheville Police Department to provide any information we can during their investigation."

Asheville City, Buncome County schools providing counseling to students

Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer attended the police press conference and told the Citizen Times afterward that Wednesday’s shooting was “a horrific, beyond tragic event” that is unusual for the community.

Manheimer has three children in ACS schools, two of whom were classmates with the shooting victims.

"They’re the same age," she said. "They were shocked and surprised by the news."

Eric Howard, ACS director of student services, said the school system's two crisis counseling teams are in schools today working with students.

"This was a big family, a well-loved family," Howard said. "A lot of kids, especially the young ones want to talk about it, ask questions about it."

In a statement, Buncombe County Schools offered condolences to Smith's family and the Asheville City Schools community.

"We can confirm that a BCS student who recently transferred from Asheville Middle was among those injured," the district said. "We can also confirm that the students from Asheville City Schools who passed away are known to some of our current students. Crisis teams and grief counselors have been deployed to all schools impacted by these events. We encourage students and staff who may be struggling with this news to reach out to their school counselor."

ACS also planned to deploy additional guidance counselors.

"Dealing with this tragedy is going to take the time, and we will be here for every student, every family, and every staff member," Superintendent Denise Patterson said in a letter to the district's families."

Smith's surviving children are receiving services from the Mountain Child Advocacy Center, Hooper said.

More: West Asheville shooting: What we know now

Police are working on a timeline of the shooting, and are encouraging anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Asheville Police Department at 828-252-1110 or Crime Stoppers at 828-255-5050.

Hooper said anyone in an abusive or violent relationship, or know someone who is, should contact the Family Justice Center at 828-250-6900 or buncombecounty.org/fjc for help.

"Any death in our community, especially one involving violence in this scale, has far-reaching traumatic impacts, particularly when they involve children," Hooper said.

Staff writer Joel Burgess contributed to this report.