Article published May 21, 2004

Intruder killed at Carolina Beach home

CAROLINA BEACH - A man sound asleep in his recliner, but with a .357 magnum revolver in his waistband, shot and killed an intruder early Thursday after being woken up by punches.
According to Carolina Beach officials, Dana Davis, a 53-year-old former Durham County sheriff's deputy, said he pulled out the handgun after Charles Alexander Gokee attacked him in his Carolina Beach home.
Mr. Davis, of Charlotte Avenue, was treated at an area hospital for head wounds. Mr. Gokee, 39, of Wilmington, died on the way to the hospital.
Carolina Beach officials said they believed Mr. Gokee, a former Kure Beach resident, had been drinking, and confused Mr. Davis with a former Kure Beach neighbor of his – "a registered sex offender" – he be-lieved was trying to have sex with his teenage daughter.
"We think Mr. Gokee thought he was in his (Kure Beach) neighborhood," said H.B. Humphries, a detective with the Carolina Beach Police.
Mr. Davis told the Star-News on Thursday that he fell asleep in his recliner in front of the television about 1 a.m. Mr. Davis, who stands about 5 foot 9 with a slim build, said he keeps a gun in his home for protection. He said he woke up about 2 a.m. being punched in the head and face by a man he didn't know.
"At first I thought it was a dream," said Mr. Davis, standing in front of his home Thursday afternoon, with more than a dozen stitches in his head. "But then I saw blood everywhere … and pulled out my gun."
Mr. Davis said it took him a few seconds to realize he was being attacked. He said the attack spilled over into the kitchen as the intruder began yelling about Mr. Davis trying to have sex with his daughter.
"I didn't know who he was or what he was talking about," Mr. Davis said.
Police officials later identified the intruder as Mr. Gokee, who stood 6 feet 4 inches and weighed about 220 pounds.
Mr. Davis pulled out the gun from his waistband, and the two men began struggling over it. At least two rounds accidentally were fired into the ceiling.
"It was like a movie," he said.
Mr. Davis said he believes once the intruder realized he wasn't going to give up, he ran outside. Mr. Davis said he collected himself and went to the front door to see if the man was lingering and if he could see what the man was driving. He said he saw Mr. Gokee hiding behind his truck.
Mr. Davis said Mr. Gokee started toward him, screaming, "I'm going to kill you."
Mr. Davis fired warning shots before shooting at Mr. Gokee.
Officials said the bullet went into Mr. Gokee's back and exited through his shoulder. Police said it's possible Mr. Gokee saw the gun being raised in the air and was struck in the back as he turned around to run.
Police dogs found Mr. Gokee about 10 minutes later in a vacant lot about 200 feet from Mr. Davis' home.
The shooting is under investigation, and Mr. Davis has not been charged. John Carriker, the New Hanover County district attorney, said Mr. Davis fired off warning shots before shooting at an advancing Mr. Gokee and the incident seems like a case of self-defense.
"If your life is in danger, you can use deadly force to repel an attack," Mr. Carriker said.
An autopsy was scheduled to be performed on Mr. Gokee on Thursday.
Mr. Gokee was charged earlier this year in Wilmington with breaking and entering and obtaining property by false pretenses. At the time of the shooting, he was wanted by police for failure to appear.

Millard K. Ives: 343-2075
millard.ives@starnewsonline.com

Thursday, May 20, 2004
From Wilmington’s WECT.com of May 20, 2004

Carolina Beach homeowner kills intruder in self defense

Police discover the body of Charles Gokee in this yard on Charlotte Avenue in Carolina Beach. The body of a man apparently trying to defend his family who confronted the wrong man. Carolina Beach Police Detective Harry Humphries says "He got drunk, he got stupid and the man went after him."
This is how police describe the deadly case of mistaken identity. Gokee was out to find the man who was sexually harassing his daughter. He broke into a home-- the wrong home. Inside was Dana Davis. He awoke to a stranger attacking him. Davis, a former law enforcement officer went for his gun. The two men struggled for the weapon. Two shots were fired in the ceiling. Gokee then ran. Davis went outside and saw him still in his yard. Gokee charged Davis threatening to kill him. Davis fired the fatal shot. A neighbor saw Gokee's body down the street. "He was lying in the ground moving around he was still alive and police were looking around him," says Mario Proserpi. Kellie Mininno, can't believe what happened in her quiet neighborhood. "I don't know what I would have done if someone broke into my home with my family. It guess it was what he had to do in the heat of the moment." In that moment police say a man defending his home kills a man defending his family.
Gokee had a criminal record of breaking and entering. No charges have been filed again Davis.

TOWN OF CAROLINA BEACH
1121 N. Lake Park Boulevard
Carolina Beach , North Carolina 28428
910 458 5663 / FAX 910 458 2997
News Release
EARLY MORNING SHOOTING IN CAROLINA BEACH RESULTS IN DEATH OF
KURE BEACH MAN
CAROLINA BEACH , NC---Charles Alexander Gokee, 39, of Kure Beach , was shot and
killed early this morning after entering into the Charlotte Avenue home of 53-year-old Dana
Davis , according to an investigation and reports from the Carolina Beach Police Department
(CBPD).
Major William M. Still, interim chief for CBPD, issued the following report of the
incident:
At 2:08 a.m., 20 May 2004, Carolina Beach Police were dispatched to 304 Charlotte
Avenue regarding a home invasion and assault where the homeowner reported firing a weapon at
an intruder. Upon officers arrival at the scene, they found Mr. Dana Davis , 53, of the home with
open lacerations and wounds on his head. Mr. Davis reported he was alone and asleep in a
lounge chair in the living room of his home at 304 Charlotte Avenue when he was awakened by
an unidentified male repeatedly striking him in the head and face.
Mr. Davis said he attempted to fight off his attacker (later identified as Mr. Charles
Alexander Gokee, 39, formerly of 311 3rd Avenue Kure Beach and 321 Hooker Road Lot 57
Wilmington NC), and the two men moved from the living room to the kitchen area. At the time
of the assault, Mr. Davis had his storm door closed and his main entrance door opened and
unsecured. He also had a 357-magnum revolver at his side while he had been sleeping in the
chair. The men fought over the weapon and Mr. Davis fired two shots from the weapon into the
ceiling of the kitchen as they fought.
At one point, Mr. Gokee fled the residence through the living room door. Upon collecting
himself Mr. Davis walked to the door to try and determine which direction his attacker had fled
and also to see if he could see a vehicle for later identification of the suspect. When he opened
the storm door he discovered Mr. Gokee had not left the property but was standing at the rear of
his (Mr. Davis's) truck in the drive of the home. According to Mr. Davis, Mr. Gokee turned and
started towards him again stating he was going to kill Mr. Davis. Mr. Davis then raised his
weapon and fired a single round towards Mr. Gokee. Mr. Gokee fled the property and was
discovered in a vacant lot approximately 200 feet from Mr. Davis’ home.
An autopsy is scheduled for Mr. Gokee on the afternoon of 20 May 2004. Additional
investigation is continuing by the CBPD. No charges have been filed in the matter. Mr. Davis
was treated for his injuries at New Hanover Regional Medical Center and released.
As additional information is developed, CBPD will release information through our
Public Information Officer, Mrs. Valita Quattlebaum @ 458-5663. No further information is
available at this time.

Early Morning Shooting Results In Death Of Intruder
By Willard H. Killough III
Managing Editor
editor@islandgazette.net

CAROLINA BEACH - According to Carolina Beach Police Detective Harry Humphries, in the early morning hours of May 20th, at approximately 2:08am, Charles Alexander Gokee, 39, of Kure Beach, was shot and killed after entering into the Charlotte Avenue home of 53-year-old former Durham County Sheriff’s Deputy, Dana Davis.
Mr. Davis moved into the Charlotte Avenue home from Durham only six weeks before the incident.
According to a report filed by Major William M. Still, interim chief, "At 2:08 a.m., 20 May 2004, Carolina Beach Police were dispatched to 304 Charlotte Avenue regarding a home invasion and assault where the homeowner reported firing a weapon at an intruder. Upon officers arrival at the scene, they found Mr. Dana Davis, 53, of the home with open lacerations and wounds on his head. Mr. Davis reported he was alone and asleep in a lounge chair in the living room of his home at 304 Charlotte Avenue when he was awaken by an unidentified male repeatedly striking him in the head and face."
According to Detective Humphries, Mr. Davis, "Woke up to someone beating him in the head."
He explained, "He sustained multiple head injuries."
Detective Humphries explained Mr. Gokee apparently hit Mr. Davis hard enough to cause his teeth to tear the skin inside of his mouth.
According to police reports, "Mr. Davis said he attempted to fight off his attacker (later identified as Mr. Charles Alexander Gokee, 39, formerly of 311 3rd Avenue Kure Beach and 321 Hooker Road Lot 57 Wilmington NC), and the two men moved from the living room to the kitchen area. At the time of the assault, Mr. Davis had his storm door closed and his main entrance door opened and unsecured. He also had a 357-magnum revolver at his side while he had been sleeping in the chair. The men fought over the weapon and Mr. Davis fired two shots from the weapon into the ceiling of the kitchen as they fought."
Detective Humphries explained that Mr. Gokee must have decided that Mr. Davis was not going to give up the gun and exited the home through the living room door.
Shortly after Mr. Gokee left the house, Mr. Davis walked to the front door to see which way his attacker was headed and to identify his vehicle.
As Mr. Davis opened the storm door, he realized Mr. Gokee had not left the property but was standing at the rear of his [Mr. Davis] truck parked in the driveway.
At that point, Mr. Davis reported to police that Mr. Gokee turned and started towards him stating he was going to kill him.
According to Detective Humphries, Mr. Davis reported that he raised his gun and fired a single round towards Mr. Gokee.
Mr. Gokee ran away and was discovered by Police dogs ten minutes later in a vacant lot approximately 200 feet from Mr. Davis house.
Detective Humphries explained that based on the accounts of Mr. Davis, Mr. Gokee was approaching him as he fired his weapon. As Mr. Gokee turned to avoid the shot, the bullet struck him.
According to Detective Humphries, the bullet entered Mr. Gokee’s lower back left side and exited his left shoulder, puncturing a lung.
Mr. Gokee died in route to the hospital.
Mr. Gokee had been previously charged with breaking and entering in Wilmington, obtaining property by false pretenses, and was wanted by law enforcement for failure to appear in court.
Why did Mr. Gokee enter Mr. Davis home and begin beating him?
Detective Humphries said details were not clear, but that Mr. Davis had never met Mr. Gokee and reported Mr. Gokee shouting, "You were #@$%@# my daughter..." as he repeatedly struck him in the head.
Detective Humphries explained that based on their investigation, Mr. Gokee had been drinking and confused Mr. Davis with a former neighbor in Kure Beach whom he believed was a registered sex offended and had attempted to have sexual relations with his 14 year old daughter last year.
Detective Humphries explained on Tuesday, May 25th, that Mr. Davis has not been charged and that at this time, he will not be charged.
Detective Humphries explained, "It was a matter of self defense."

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