It sounds like something from a Shakespeare tragedy. One man is dead, and another seriously injured after a late-night fight in Elizabethtown; a daughter is left in the middle.
Rumor ran rampant through Elizabethtown Friday after a fight between members of two well-known families left one of the men dead.
"Everybody is impacted, because they either know the family or they know the children, and you realize bad things can happen to good people,” said Danny Ellis of Elizabethtown.
Police say 22-year-old Caleb Stoker shot and killed 41-year-old Rick Carroll next to the boat ramp at Tory Hole Park Thursday night.
"This is an unfortunate situation for both parties, for the families, and the community, because both families are known here, and are well liked,” said Elizabethtown Police Chief Robert Kinlaw.
Folks in the town say Carroll did not approve of the fact that Stoker was dating Carroll's 18-year-old daughter. Sources say Carroll and Stoker arranged to meet at the boat ramp to settle their differences in person.
"We certainly hate to hear about any kind of violence or somebody being shot in our small town,” Ellis said.
Police found two weapons at the scene; the handgun used to shoot Carroll and a lead pipe investigators believe Carroll used to beat Caleb Stoker.
Carroll's role in the fight could play a big part in determining how investigators charge his accused killer. Stoker could face charges ranging from self-defense to first-degree murder.
According to 9-1-1 records, the first call from the scene of the fight came in from Caleb Stoker.
He is out of the hospital tonight.
God will judge you too
If you think God will not judge you for your gossip and your judgement of others you are wrong. Not all that cry out Lord Lord shall enter the kingdom. Stop using bible verses to justify your double edged sword of a tongue !
Read ur bible !
The commendment " Do not Kill' , doesn't only mean kill in a physical sense. DO NOT KILL also means mentally and emotionaly. Every comment on here makes u just as guilty of a crime as a serial killer. Study your bible people.FYI ... GOSSIP IS JUST AS BAD
THOU SHALT NOT KILL.
THOU SHALT NOT KILL. Obviously at least one of the persons involved is not familiar with this commandment. God will judge this act. Hope the only one of the two left is ready to be judged for this act of intentionally disobeying God's commandment. WHERE WILL YOU SPEND ETERNITY???????
What if........
So lets say that Caleb didn't have a gun (already in his truck as do most young men in Elizabethtown). Do you people honestly believe that Ricky would have hit Caleb with the pipe 3 or 4 times and quit? I don't think so.
Fight leaves ELIZABETHTOWN man dead
You really cant blame Ricky for his actions.Even though the actions were to conflict bodily harm.I also have a little girl and would do anything and everything to assure her safety.If I even had to sacrafice my own safety or life.Which Im pretty sure all parents would do.From my standpoint I really dont think Ricky would have intended to kill Caleb,I think he just wanted to send him a strong message,even if it meant jail time,I think he could deal with that.But killing Caleb in cold blood,would be the opposite of what he wanted for Kristen and himself.He could have easily took Calebs life but chose to let him live,to learn that you dont mess with a mans family!!I think Caleb took advantage of the oppurtunity to hurt Kristen for life!!!
YOU DON'T HAVE A CLUE
EVER BEEN ATTACKED BY SOMEONE WITH A PIECE OF PIPE . YOU WOULD DO THE SAME THING IF YOU HAD GUN.
Terrible
This story is a trajedy. My thoughts are with both families during this tough time.
One has to think, why would a 41 yr. old adult need to meet a 22 yr. old young adult at the tory hole park to settle his differences regarding the courting of his daughter?
Could he not have asked him to meet at their house to discuss the situation like "grown-ups"?
Tragedies such as this have plagued Elizabethtown for years & will probably continue to as long as the town is populated by & run by the unsophisticated.
Also, how will Bladen County's education ever progress, if the school systems continue to have the same people on the boards that are obviously not making changes that make a difference.
We are also glad you are out
We are also glad you are out of Etown. We haven't missed you. Also, aren't stereotypes and generalizations signs of unsophistication and ignorance? At least that is what they taught my uneducated/unsophisticated self in college.
Enough Negative Comments!
In tragic situations, the best thing people can do is be quiet and let the law enforcement community take the time to conduct a thorough investigation. Either way, once the investigation is over, there will be no winner. No one wins from whatever the final verdict is. The only hope possible is for people to learn from this tragedy, and not let something like this ever happen again in our community! Take the time to hit your knees and pray for every single person that has been affected by this tragedy. May the Lord ease your pain, our shared pain! At times, "Silence is Golden!"
the facts
My prayers are with both families.This was a senseless tragedy. All this speculation is not helping the situation at all. The real facts are known only by Caleb and Ricky(rest his soul). The law enforcement probably has a good idea of what really happened. The evidence will tell the story, so Caleb you better be ready, you will get whats coming to you. Maybe not now, but you will have to answer to the man above. THOU SHALT NOT KILL.
Just One Question
Who are you to judge??? If you are talking about the Man Above, then I would suppose you know a little something about religion, and then that would make me believe that you would know NOT to pass judgement.
WOW
And here I sat thinking that God was the judge of man's actions. I did not realize that Guest 2525 was a judge also.
Sorry, but your quote is incorrect
The correct translation from the 10 commandments is "Thou shalt not murder". God does allow for self-defense, even if it results in an attacker being killed, and also in the event of a break-in that results in the death of a thief.
The full meaning of the commandment is not only to not do murder, but also to not allow murder -- to yourself as much as to another.
This is a terrible situation
This is a terrible situation for everyone involved and what makes it worse is people getting on here posting things that you dont have any clue if its true or not. Nobody on this website is SBI or Etown PD or you wouldnt be posting things on the internet, so therefor you dont know the facts. If you want to say something try condolences for both families. I will add this, how do you get stitches (multiple not just one for the record) without going to the hospital, use common sense please. quick English lesson casey the word you are looking for is think not thank welcome to second grade.
thInks to everyone with logical post
for one the only reason
for one the only reason people are saying what they are saying is because they only know one side of the story and to tell you the truth it seems like he is a little punk from etown that likes to hide behind a gun this should have never happend and he should of quit stalking her and grow up and ricky might not of done what he had to do but before it is all over what has happend will end up with consequences!!!
P.s Dont dont bring a gun unless your a punk
what?
Come on now.... then what do you call a 40 some year old man tryin to hit a 22 year old with a pipe? come on now? If the situation were turned around would we all be saying the same things i wonder?
OK
So what does it mean when a 41 year old man brings a pipe to attack a 22 year old man? And also, do you have firsthand knowledge that she was being stalked or did your cousins-best friends-uncles- wife tell you this info?
Both familys need alot of
Both familys need alot of prayer & support from the community but look at what you are doing with your comments & opinions, there are 3 sides to every story mine yours & the truth! This is a tragedy to both familys!
This is a small town we all
This is a small town we all have to live together, everybody knows each other & I agree it was poor judgment on behalf of both paries but, there a two families involved in this, one lost a son, a wife lost a husband, & children who have to grow up without a father, & the Stokers will have to live the rest of their lives with what happen, alot of emotional scaring that will never go away.Why dont you people keep your comments & opinions to yourselfs, you are only making things worse!
E-town
Exactly right! Out of respect for both families involved, no speculations should be made until the investigation is complete.
Senseless Tragedy
First of all, I feel terribly sorry for the two families involved in this senseless tragedy--this foolish violence.
But the situation reeks of plain old redneck trashiness.
Intelligent, civilized people do not result to violence to settle their differences.
are you saying that the men
are you saying that the men and women going off to war to defend themselves is "old redneck trashiness"
whole diffrent ball game
please stop being stupid. God knows the real deal.
intelligent
Intelligent civilized people dont refer to grieving families as "redneck trash"... perhaps guestafaria should look at the mirror in his ivory tower.
Yep.....'cause most of the time
the civilized more up-ity folks can afford to pay someone to do their dirty work for them. Therefore they keep their hands clean.
Precious few details have
Precious few details have been released so far. I don't think anyone needs to rush to judgment. Here in Bladen County there are rumors floating around and it seems like everybody has their own set of irrefutable facts. When the investigation is complete, we will have the whole story. Speculation beforehand is not good for either family involved.
so many things have been said
most of the comments ive read are people not sure of what really went on they dont know know the facts that stocker had run in to the girls car on more than one time had stalked her and was fighting with her the night this thing went down and that was the reason they met anyway just a dad defending his daughter from a insane person
So you're telling me that
So you're telling me that ANY 41 yr old DAD, can go out and beat up a 22 yr old MALE because of something that is going on between this male and his daughter?? FIRST of all, if Ricky had such a big problem with Caleb, why didn't he put a stop to the relationship before it generated to this?? If Caleb truely did all this crazy acts as stated above,and he was REALLY as INSANE, as you say he was, why weren't there restraints taken out on him?? I think you may be missing something somewhere! ! I'm sure if you sat down and heard the other side of the story where The Daughter, that seems so "innocent", wasn't so innocent. . . .
Obviously the etown crowd
Obviously the etown crowd isnt the real etown crowd yall say yall are because if yall were you would be aware of her doing just as much of what yall are calling stalking to him in the past. I dont think his intentions were to ever ever ever hurt anyone and she caused the confusion not wanting to take responsibility for the situation she caused over the past years. How about everyone let the facts and evidence tell the story and keep opinions to theirselves.
re:Fight leaves man dead in Elizabethtown
They both had to know that something bad was going to happen when they meet each other. I wouldnt think there was no intent on a killing. Just hurt one another bad. Oh well now people know that killings go on anywhere. Bottom line if your invited to a fight, and show up bring a gun. You dont know what the other person has. Fighting over a woman is stupid anyhow. That boy should had moved on, that man was going to do whatever he could to keep him away from his daughter.
Shakespeare ?
Sounds more like Jerry Springer.
Stoker had a gun on him for a reason...
seems to me he was expecting trouble so it could be considered pre-meditated murder, but this is the south I guess... "duals" are still legal.
Not necessarily
Suppose Stoker has a CCW permit and carried a firearm with him at all times? Even without a permit, suppose he simply had a firearm in his vehicle and tried to escape, but his attacker pursued him and kept attacking as he tried to get into the vehicle?
The law states that you can use deadly force to prevent grievous injury or death. What if "daddy" was the agressor? If Stoker is always armed, it may be ruled as justifiable homicide.
So the circumstances of why and how Stoker was armed may have a direct bearing on whether he faces charges or not, just as the sequence of events will.
Well..
There is always I-95 NORTH for you to use...and it's DUEL...
at least
they took the shooting out of town and did not square off at the McDonalds.
Buy a clue
"Self-defense" is not a charge.
It could be a justification for the shooting that would eliminate any charges.
nothing Shakespearean or romantic here......
just two idiots who let their emotions ruin the lives of those they claimed to be protecting.
PS never bring a pipe to a gun fight.
Compassion
This such a sad story for both families. It is so easy for people on the outside to assign blame and judge those involved. However, being a mother who had an irrate father come after my son a few years ago and the wife of a man who is truely over protective of his only daughter, I can see both sides. Sometimes we love someone so much that it blocks out common sense. I think this young girl and the families of these men need our prayers and support not our holier than thou judgements.
compassion, you don't know
compassion, you don't know the whole story yet, maybe he didn't go there to fight.and how can you say shot 6 times is self defense.
If I was being beaten
If I was being beaten senseless with a lead pipe I would have pulled the trigger till the bullets stopped flying.
Where did you get your facts
Where did you get your facts from??? Caleb only had one 1 inch cut above his eye and THAT WAS ALL!!! How could you imply that he was beaten senseless???
1 is enough
If I had brain surgery (as Mr. Stoker has) and was hit in the head with a pipe, once would have been enough. How many stiches are no matter. I don't know all the facts and can't justify either parties actions, just saying to take all facts into context.
I just think it is funny
I just think it is funny that so many people know what happend that night! I thought that Caleb and Ricky were the only ones at Tory Hole park. Yet this is Elizabethtown and it seems that everyone know everything. I think it is a Sad Sad event that has affected two families for the rest of their lives.
Have to agree
I would have to agree. However, I bet when the COPs show up there will be not one there that knows anything about it.
Ricky(rest his soul) & Caleb
I have read all of the comments to this article and I have several questions to ask? Do all of you believe hear-say? Have any of you tried to talk to a coroner or an autopsy specialist? Do any of you know the true facts as to the events that led up to these two meeting at Tory Hole Park or are you all just making assumptions based on what you heard or read here?
On Ricky's behalf, Ricky was a good father and provider for his family. He was also extremely protective over them. If you felt that someone was a threat to your family, and you had done all you could do including going to the parents of the person and the authorities and nothing came of it, what course of action would you take?
On Caleb's behalf, Caleb is a smart young man with many good attributes.I am sorry that he didn't use better judgement in this circumstance.
To both families, I pray that you may find comfort through your troubles and somehow some sort of peace.
To Ricky's Family, I keep you in my thoughts and prayers and am truly sorry for your loss.
May God Bless And Keep You In Your Time Of Sorrow! Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted....