Deputy Charged in Shooting of Hendersonville Man

Henderson County -- February 24, 2024: A Henderson County officer who was fired on Friday has been charged by state investigators after a man was injured in a shooting at a Hendersonville apartment complex.

The Hendersonville Police Department reported in a press release Friday afternoon that former Henderson County Sheriff's Office Deputy Joshua Rankin has been charged by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) with felony assault with a deadly weapon resulting in serious bodily damage. Hendersonville police executed the order and brought Rankin into custody without incident. He was released on a $20,000 bond.

At approximately 7 a.m. Friday, officers from the Hendersonville Police Department responded to a complaint of gunfire at 80 Brittany Estates Circle. The event occurred when the now-former deputy, Joshua Rankin, was not on duty.

Matthew Browning, a resident of the apartment building where the shooting took place, was 25 years old and has been named as the victim. Browing was treated at Pardee Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and released.

The following is a Henderson County Sheriff's Office February 23, 2024  Press Release:

February 23, 2024

The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office is aware of this morning’s events, and we have removed ourselves from the investigation surrounding the incident at Brittany Estates. I have full confidence that the Hendersonville Police Department and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation will conduct a thorough and complete investigation of the incident. The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office will cooperate fully with the investigating agencies. At this time, I am able to release that Joshua Rankin’s employment with Henderson County Sheriff’s Office has been terminated. For obvious reasons, I will be unable to comment further until the investigation is completed and reviewed by District Attorney Andrew.

Editor's Note:* A criminal charge is an accusation, by law, a person accused of a crime is innocent until proven in a court of law.

WNCTimes