Man shoots wife, fights officers

A Chapel Hill man charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury might have his charge elevated when the Orange County district attorney next hears the case on March 27.

Larry Adkins Griffin, 64, currently faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, assault on a female and resisting a public officer after his wife was shot multiple times at a residence on University Station Road in the early hours of the morning on March 9.

Tim Horne, an investigator with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, said Griffin’s charge is likely to be elevated to assault inflicting serious injury with intent to kill when he is indicted.

Horne said Griffin’s wife is being treated at Duke University Hospital and is expected to survive.

“With the injuries she received, they were certainly life-threatening injuries,” Horne said. “It’s going to be a slow recovery — a recovery like that is day by day.”

Officers responded to a call that a woman had been shot multiple times at approximately 3:50 a.m. on March 9.

“Deputies were able to get the victim to safety and render aid,” the release states.

According to court documents, when an Orange County deputy sheriff attempted to arrest him, Griffin reached for his firearm and fought the deputy when the deputy attempted to take the firearm.

The documents also state that Griffin was committed to the Central Regional Psychiatric Hospital in Butner, N.C., on March 13 for a mental health evaluation.

According to the documents, Griffin had consumed a lot of alcohol on the night of the incident and left a last will and testament at the scene of the crime.

The documents state that the court, state and district attorney believe Griffin is homicidal and has indicated a willingness to kill himself.

Horne said that based on Griffin’s history, the incident was not surprising.

Horne declined to elaborate on his comments.

Robin Sansing, a social worker with the Beacon Program at UNC Hospitals, which provides care to people experiencing numerous types of family-related violence, said there are many resources in Orange County for victims of domestic assault.

But she also said the road ahead for Griffin’s wife could be a long one.

“What she’s got to go through is a slow legal process,” Sansing said.

“She’s going to have to figure out how can she move through her life in a way where she can manage what she’s been through.”

Ardith Burkes, interim executive director of the Compass Center for Women and Families, said the group keeps victims informed about the resources they have moving forward.

“It can be a challenge for many victims to figure out where they’re going to live if they’re financially dependent — how they’re going to support themselves,” Burkes said.

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