Vandalism in Deep Gap
By Melanie Marshall

Two Deep Gap businesses fell victim to criminal damage to property in the early morning hours of Tuesday.

An outside light for Thompson’s Seafood, located at 5714 Old U.S. 421, was reportedly shot with an unknown firearm.

Terry Thompson, owner, lives behind the business. He told the Watauga Democrat he heard the first shot at 12:45 a.m. while watching television in his home. Thompson stepped outside and witnessed a car — make and model unknown — driving away from the restaurant’s parking lot. Thompson said he called 911 as he continued to hear multiple gunshots.

The second business, High Country Waste Solutions, located at 5862 Old U.S. 421, reported damage to property at 7:29 a.m. Tuesday.

A truck driver came to work and picked up a front-loading dump truck to go for Tuesday rounds.

At the first stop, the driver realized the air lines were damaged and the equipment to lift dumpsters was inoperable, according to co-owner Reid Stewart.

When the driver returned to the Old U.S. 421 office, three outside lights were discovered broken and two windows broken out of a second company vehicle. The incident report does not indicate gunfire.

Capt. Dee Dee Rominger of the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office said the incidents are not thought to be related, other than proximity, at this time.