Sheriff’s office charges man accused of shooting into Hamlet home

HAMLET — A domestic dispute last week reportedly turned violent, landing one man with a court date.

According to a Facebook post from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, 73-year-old O’Neil Patrick was involved in an altercation on Laurel Hill Street, just east of Hamlet, on July 18.

Patrick allegedly left after the dispute, but returned “a short time later” and fired rounds into an occupied home.

Patrick was arrested and charged with one felony count each of discharging a weapon into an occupied property and possession of a firearm by a felon, as well as a misdemeanor count of assault on a female.

According to a FB post from RCSO, Patrick was initially held without bond. However, online records with the Richmond County Jail appear to show he was not in custody on July 24.

Online court records show Patrick is scheduled to appear in court July 29. He also has a pending citation for speeding in Hoke County.

Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Patrick has a conviction history dating back 50 years in four counties, and that his first name has been alternately spelled “Oneil” and “Oneal.”

Patrick was first convicted in 1974 of felony breaking and entering, and spent five weeks shy of three years in prison.

Records show Patrick was convicted on two forgery charges in 1978; felony breaking and entering and felony larceny (the latter in Montgomery County) in 1984; and conspiracy to sell a Schedule II controlled substance (Scotland County) in 1989.

(Note: NCDAC records appear to show Patrick was still in prison — Aug. 17, 1978-July 31, 1990) when he was convicted on the charges in 1984 and 1989.)

A decade after his release (2000), Patrick was convicted in Anson County of maintaining any place for a controlled substance and possession with intent to sell a Schedule II controlled substance, and served two consecutive prison terms totalling 16 months.

Patrick was given probation in 2008 when he was convicted of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance; in 2019 when he was convicted on two counts of selling a Schedule II controlled substance; and again in 2022 when convicted possession with intent to sell a Schedule II controlled substance and simple assault.

All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.