By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A Rowan County jury found a Salisbury man guilty of assault with a deadly weapon after a four-day trial.

Keith Daniel Litaker, 47, was convicted Friday in Superior Court of felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury and felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

In consecutive sentences, Judge Jeffery Carpenter sentenced Litaker to a minimum of 29 months to a maximum of 47 months in prison and a minimum of 14 months to a maximum of 26 months in prison.

Officials said on April 5, 2016, deputies from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office were called to Litaker Road to investigate a shooting. They were met by a man who said his cousin, Gotti Pacino Litaker, 25, had been shot and was inside the home. Witnesses in the home told deputies the shooter, Keith Litaker, ran out the back door.

Officials said in 2016 that Gotti Litaker was on the floor when deputies entered the home. A report said he had a blood-stained shirt, and a shell casing was found near him. He was conscious and alert, but his breathing was shallow.

Gotti Litaker told deputies there was an argument and Keith Litaker shot him. Deputies gave first aid to Gotti Litaker at the scene until Rowan EMS arrived.

Deputies collected an empty shell casing near Gotti Litaker, along with two shell casings and a bullet fragment from a door.

A witness said Keith Litaker was angry and waived a gun inside the house. A witness said he tried to calm Litaker but he shot the victim.

Litaker was previously convicted of felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance. He’s also been convicted of misdemeanor assault on a female and assault with a deadly weapon.

Rowan County District Attorney Brandy Cook said she appreciates the work of Assistant District Attorney Tim Gould in the trial, the investigation by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and the cooperation of the victim who testified in court.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.