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| APD police chief William Anderson at press conference Photo by Bill Rhodes
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Reporting by Bill Rhodes and David Forbes
This morning, the APD held a press conference on a deadly April 4 incident. Here’s the full release from the Asheville Police Department:
Asheville — On April, 4 just after 9 p.m. the Asheville Police Department received a fight call with weapons at Mike’s Tavern located at 375 Haywood Road in West Asheville.
Officers arrived to find a large crime scene with multiple victims. The preliminary investigation revealed that Steven Wike had been asked to leave Mike’s Tavern earlier in the day. Wike returned to the Tavern at approximately 9 p.m., allegedly armed with at least one knife.
Upon entering the patio area of the Tavern, Wike stabbed Harold Mchone, who died at the scene. Wike then approached and stabbed Kevin Warren, who was transported to Mission Hospital and is listed in critical condition at the time of this release. Wike encountered Phillip Davis in front of the Tavern and stabbed Davis who was pronounced dead on arrival at Mission Hospital.
Wike fled the scene on foot and was chased by other patrons from the tavern. Wike was caught by Stevie Gene Davis and Richard Kevin Anderson a short distance from Mike’s Tavern. An altercation ensued and Wike died as a result of that altercation.
The Victims
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| Harold Cager McHone 10/14/1958 of Asheville died at the scene from apparent stab wounds.
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| Kevin Lee Warren 06/13/1986 of Asheville was apparently stabbed and is listed in critical condition at Mission Hospital.
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| Phillip Leon Davis 10/31/1964 of Candler was pronounced dead on arrival at Mission Hospital from apparent stab wounds.
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| Steven Atwell Wike 06/09/1966 of Wilmington died at Mission Hospital from apparent stab wounds.
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The Assailants
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| After consultation with the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office, Stevie Gene Davis 12/31/1959 of Asheville was charged with 1st Degree Murder and is held at the Buncombe County Detention Facility under No Bond.
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Richard Kevin Anderson 06/05/1986 of Asheville was charged with Aid and Abet 1st Degree Murder and is held at the Buncombe County Detention Facility under a $150,000 Secure Bond.
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I don’t understand the 1st deg. murder charge. How did Davis premeditate this scenario? Seems that Wike premeditated his killings and the two who are being charged just reacted in the heat of the moment.
Maybe some facts are missing?
Part of the 1st Degree charge is the distance they chased Wike, it was over a block away from the bar.
If they indeed grabbed baseball bats from the bar and chased the guy down, does that constitute premeditation?
“Under North Carolina law, first-degree murder is the unlawful killing of another human being with malice and with premeditation and deliberation. Second-degree murder is the unlawful killing of a human being with malice but without premeditation and deliberation.”
cont. at: http://www.duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/P/Premeditation.aspx
Luckily they all had mugshots on file.
I do not think 1st degree murder is what Steve Davis should be charged with. I dont think he should b in jail its wrong. What would have happened if Wike would have got on city bus if he was killing people at the tavern for no apparent reason, what do u think he would have done on that bus? Steve Davis seen his brother get stabbed to death, who would not react in scared, mad, anger,not knowing what to do for your family member who is laying there bleeding to death an theres nothing u can do to save your loved one. Everyone needs to imagine the Hurt the pain and sadness Steve Davis felt when his brother was on the ground bleeding to death . You imagine that and then u think what you would have done to. My opinion is Steve Davis should b let out of jail. He didn’t even get to go to own brothers funeral today on. 4-11-12. How do u think this man feels , his brother is gone he is in. Jail for I say self defense for. Himself & the people on that city bus. Also the community since the bus driver didnt let wike on the buswike could have killed more innocent people to try and get there car so he could get away . Then u never no how many more people wike could have killed trying to get out of the asheville area. Wike killed 2 people that where not doing athing to him. Wike was mad for being told to leave a tavern he was to intoxicated to b served. If he was going to kill over that who else do u think he would have killed that got around him. Steve Davis done the state of North Carolina a favor, taking a killer that had must have really put thought into going to kill. THATS PREMEDITATED.
He had a drinking problem and was drunk at the time, he’s not a mindless murderer. He killed them because they had a fight before.