By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
Scott Beaver said he will carry a gun with him every day for the rest of his life.
Beaver watched helplessly July 21 as two armed gunmen bound his wife and grandson and pointed their weapons at the younger children, demanding that he open the safe inside his home.
ěIt wasnít the money, as much as the trauma,î he said. ěItís such a helpless feeling.î
Beaver owns Beaverís Honda Salvage on Deal Road in southern Rowan County, along with a car lot which is separated from his house by his driveway.
Beaver said at about 8 p.m. Thursday night, a car pulled into the driveway and asked for the price of one of Beaverís for-sale vehicles.
He said he quoted the price, then turned back to his children, who were swinging in the yard.
The 63-year-old said he turned around when he heard the gate separating the drive-way from the yard open.
ěThere was nothing I could do,î he said. ěI thought, ëWhat in the world can I do?í î
Beaver said the gunman pulled a handgun and demanded money. Beaver handed the man his wallet.
ěHe said, ëNo, I want in the safe.í î
Beaver said the gunman told everyone to get in the house, and at that time another gunman approached with a shotgun.
ěThe kids were screaming, ëPlease donít shoot us,í î he said.
Beaver said the first gunman was tall, and the second was slightly shorter than average height. Beaver said the armed gunmen were black and did not have their faces covered.
Beaver said once they got in the house, the tall gunman held both guns while the other tied up his wife, Shirley, and 20-year-old grandson, Nick. Beaverís twin 5-year-old daughters and his 3-year-old great-grandson were told to lie down.
After seeing the gunman relax, Beaver dove at him, causing the man to drop both weapons. Beaver said he wrestled with the man momentarily until the man regained control of the handgun, hitting Beaver in the face with the weapon.
ěI was convinced I was going to have to open the safe,î he said.
Beaver said he was afraid the gunmen would hurt his children if he didnít cooperate.
ěI still get shook up talking about it,î he said. ěEven now they ask me, ëAre any bad guys coming tonight?í î
According to Beaver, the amount of money in the safe was an ěundetermined amount.î
Beaver said he kept money from his car lot in the safe temporarily until he made a bank deposit.
ěAll the money I have, Iíve made legally,î he said.
Beaver no longer keeps a safe in the home and heís increased security at the house. Heís also moved the car lot to another location.
Surveillance cameras documented the suspects as being in the home for 32 minutes. Beaver did not detail what the cameras recorded and did not say if he recognized the suspects.
The suspects were driving a 1992 to 1995 gold Chevy Lumina, Beaver said.
ěIíll never be without a gun again,î he said.