Man shot by

Seven Devils officer dies
By Melanie Davis
Melanie@mountaintimes.com

Walter Steele, 37, of the Foscoe community died in the early morning hours of Tuesday at the Johnson City Area Medical Center in Tennessee.

Steele was shot by a Seven Devils patrolman during an incident on Jan. 9 at his home on N.C. 105 near the Avery-Watauga county line.

The officer, Jonathan Harris, responded to the home as a result of a noise complaint alleging gunfire. The home is located in the jurisdiction of the Watauga County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff’s deputies, however, were dispatched to other calls at the time. Harris was called as mutual aid to respond, per procedure, as the closest available officer.

Police allege Steele answered the door holding a gun. According to a statement from the Seven Devils Police Department, Harris instructed Steele to drop the weapon at least three times. Officials say Steele then raised the weapon toward Harris, at which point Harris fired.

Harris was the only officer present at the time of the shooting. Members of the Sugar Mountain Police Department, Avery County Sheriff’s Office, Watauga County Sheriff’s Office and the Banner Elk Police Department arrived within minutes.

Harris has been with the Seven Devils department for approximately eight months. He was placed on administrative leave following the incident. He returned to work Tuesday.

Steele was transported to Johnson City Area Medical Center in Tennessee via WINGS Air Rescue following the shooting where he had remained in intensive care.

Neighbors described Steele as a person who kept mainly to himself, though friendly when encountered. He was an avid collector of World War II memorabilia, and operated an eBay business called History's Gift Shop.

Steele's pets, two dogs and two cats, are being cared for by friends.

This is the first shooting involving an officer in the history of the Seven Devils Police Department, which consists of five officers total. The town was founded in 1979.

The State Bureau of Investigation was called in and continues to investigate the incident. This is a standard procedure for all officer-involved shootings.

Jennifer Cannon, assistant public information officer for the N.C. Department of Justice, said no details are released on an ongoing SBI investigation. Once complete, the SBI report will be turned over to Watauga County district attorney Jerry Wilson for review. An estimated time frame for the investigation and review has not be released.

Funeral arrangements

Mr. Walter Garland Wally" Steele III, 38, of Banner Elk, died Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008, at the Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, Tenn.

He was born in Bristol, Tenn., and graduated from Virginia High School. Mr. Steele attended Lees-McRae College, received his associate degree from Caldwell Community College, and later attended Appalachian State University.

He was an Eagle Scout and a member of State Street United Methodist Church. He was a talented artist and sculptor, a history buff and a collector.

Survivors include his mother, Anne Griffith Steele; his sisters, Mandi Dennis and her husband, Mark, and their children Ellie, Sam and Gabby, and Millie Anne VanDevender and her husband, Brent, and their son, Abraham; his paternal grandmother, Pauline Steele; his maternal grandparents, Carl and LaNelle Griffith; his beloved Serena Crawford and her son, Austin; numerous loving aunts, uncles and cousins; and his faithful companions Achilles and Monkey.

He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Garland "Wink" Steele Jr.; and his paternal grandfather, Walter Garland Steele. Services will be conducted at 5:30 Saturday evening at State Street United Methodist Church in Bristol, Tenn., with the Rev. Reed Shell and the Rev. Sharon Wright officiating.

Wally's friends from North Carolina are invited to visit with the family at the church prior to the service from 3 to 5 p.m. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall immediately following the service and at any time at the home.

The committal service and interment will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. in Mountain View Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Watauga County Humane Society, P.O. Box 1835, Boone, N.C. 28607. Condolences and memories may be shared and viewed by visiting www.oakley-cook.com. Mr. Steele and his family are in the care of Oakley-Cook Funeral Home in Bristol, Tenn.

The funeral  home's phone number is (423) 764-7123.