Henderson County Judge Rejects Mother’s Request to Release Dashcam Video of Son’s Fatal Shooting
HENDERSONVILLE, NC – A Henderson County Superior Court judge has denied a petition filed by Patricia King, the mother of a man fatally shot in Hendersonville last year, seeking the public release of law enforcement video recordings from the night of the incident.
The decision means dashcam footage taken by a North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper, who was the first officer to respond to the scene, will remain sealed from public view.
Background of the Shooting
King’s son, Elijah Timmons III, 30, of Asheville, was shot and killed on Nov. 24, 2023, in the parking lot of the Orchard Bar and Grill in Hendersonville. The shooting occurred in front of a crowd of people and sparked calls from the family for greater transparency surrounding the investigation.
King herself was arrested at the scene during the aftermath of the shooting, though those charges were later dropped. She has since pushed for the release of dashcam and body camera footage to help clarify what unfolded that night.
The Petition and Court’s Decision
On May 29, 2025, King filed a formal petition requesting the release of the State Highway Patrol dash camera footage recorded by the responding officer.
Judge rulings in North Carolina require petitioners to demonstrate that releasing law enforcement video serves the public interest and outweighs concerns of privacy or ongoing investigations. In this case, the judge determined that the request did not meet the legal standard and denied the petition.
Mother’s Call for Transparency
King has argued that the public deserves access to the recordings, saying the lack of transparency undermines trust in law enforcement. Her efforts echo broader debates across North Carolina about when and how police recordings should be released.
She told reporters earlier this year,
“This is about accountability. People should be able to see what happened to my son.”
Next Steps in the Case
It remains unclear whether King or her legal representatives will appeal the decision. For now, the dashcam and related recordings will remain sealed, leaving questions surrounding the case unanswered.
Advocates for transparency say the ruling underscores the difficulty families face when seeking access to law enforcement footage under North Carolina’s current laws.
Do you think North Carolina should make it easier for families to access law enforcement video in cases of fatal shootings? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
