22-year-old charged after firing about 10 shots into Wild Magnolia's ceiling

About 10 shots were fired into the ceiling of Wild Magnolia’s on East Church Street in Martinsville in the early hours of March 1, but no one was injured, police said. Witnesses told officers a man pulled a gun during a fight and fired into the restaurant before fleeing the scene.

Martinsville Police Department officers were dispatched at 1:39 a.m. to a report of a fight in progress at the business listed at 730 East Church St.; while en route, police were told shots had been fired inside the restaurant. Witness accounts and the department’s preliminary investigation indicate the shooter fired roughly 10 rounds into the ceiling and left prior to officers’ arrival.

Martinsville Police Chief Chad Rhoads described the incident as occurring “under the guise of breaking up a fight between two women” and said, “Under the guise of breaking up a fight between two women, this man fired into the ceiling of the establishment — I believe about 10 times.” Officers who arrived on scene found no victims and investigators later processed the scene, collected evidence and interviewed witnesses.

Police identified the suspect as 22-year-old Tanner Crowder of Axton. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol located and arrested Crowder in Guilford County, North Carolina, later the same day. Crowder was booked into the Guilford County Detention Center on a Fugitive From Justice warrant and is being held without bond pending extradition to Martinsville.

Martinsville authorities say Crowder faces multiple firearm-related charges: shooting into an occupied dwelling, reckless handling of a firearm, discharging a firearm in the city and shooting in a public place. Officials noted that no victims arrived at local medical facilities and that the case remains under active investigation while charging and extradition processes continue.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Martinsville Police Sgt. Jason Vaughan at (276) 403-5247 or to call Crime Stoppers at 276-632-7463 (276-63CRIME). Tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $2,500.

Crowder is expected to be extradited to Martinsville later in the week for his first court appearance, and Martinsville police continue to seek additional evidence and witnesses as they work toward final charging and courtroom proceedings.