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Published: 2011-07-26 14:46:00
Updated: 2011-07-29 07:58:44

Suspected robbers shot at high-stakes Raleigh poker game


Poker game robbers shot
Poker game robbers shot
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Two men who police believe were trying to rob people at a high-stakes poker game in Raleigh late Monday were shot during a struggle, and one died, police said Tuesday.

Officers responding to a reported robbery at 4809 Sweetbriar Drive, off East Millbrook Road, shortly after 11 p.m. found Brandon Dwain Shelton, 28, dead inside the house, and Brian Matthew Onley, 23, lying on the lawn with a gunshot wound in the arm.

Witnesses told investigators that two men burst into the home wearing masks and carrying guns in an attempt to rob several poker players. A struggle ensued, and the two intruders were shot, police said.

"Both of them had hoods on and ski masks on," a man who called 911 told a dispatcher. "(One) was shot with his own gun."

Neighbors said the homeowner, Gregg Maluchnik, frequently hosted poker games and that Monday night's game was advertised as high-stakes.

Maluchnik, who played baseball at Duke University and was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1998, was charged with a misdemeanor gambling offense.

Raleigh police said they haven't been called to the home previously, and neighbors said the poker games usually were quiet affairs that drew crowds but never caused any problems.

"I have seen a number of cars, like something was going on," neighbor Jim Durnin said, adding that he thought it was an occasional Tupperware party.

Neighbor Caren Freundlich said she heard as many as five gunshots late Monday.

"I was hoping it was fireworks," Freundlich said. "I just always tell my kids that this is a safe neighborhood. It's really unsettling that it would happen right here."

Onley, of 4500 Boxwood Road, was taken to WakeMed for treatment of his wound. Upon his release Wednesday, police charged him with 11 counts of armed robbery and two counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery. He was being held in the Wake County jail under a $1.15 million bond.

Police declined to say whether the men were shot with the same gun or identify who pulled the trigger. Investigators said they are still interviewing witnesses and haven't decided whether anyone will be charged in the shooting.

Shelton served almost two years in prison for 2007 convictions for assault inflicting serious bodily injury and common-law robbery, according to state Department of Correction records. He also has been convicted of larceny and possession of stolen goods in recent years, records show.

Onley was placed on probation last fall after being convicted of assault inflicting serious bodily injury, according to Department of Correction records.


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It is ridiculous that some commenters are trying to blame the homeowner for any of this. As if he was intentionally attracting an unsavory element into the neighborhood. That is BS. All of the people who were INVITED to the game are decent, hard-working folks who are having fun together. How is the homeowner supposed to be able to predict UNINVITED and ARMED robbers will come to his house? Those of you who think that "poker" and "guns" automatically go together are way out of the loop. This is not the wild west. Decent people have the right to expect to be able to gather together to have fun without being robbed. The homeowner has done nothing wrong, and in fact is always a friendly and gracious host.

Scare crow: Actually I do read the news. Isn't it obvious since this is a "news" site. I wasn't stating the law had not passed only pointing out this was a clear example of why it should be passed for those that would argued against it and since the new changes in this bill do not come into effect until Dec.1st, the current laws still apply to this case.

Support you local "Castle Doctrine" and do what you want with your money in your house. Gregg Maluchnik is the "surviving victim" here... not the other way around.

R.I.P Brandon Shelton- That was like my uncle, he was a good man, he jus had his ways. samboney93

If his ways included violence, this can't be much of a surprise to you. It is unreasonable to expect people to have sympathy for a man who commits violent crimes against innocent people. He got what was coming to him.

To those who keep asking me "what if it were my son or daughter" and saying that you raised yours better than to do something like this.....My response to all of you is this - I happen to know for an absolute fact that Brandon was raised in a Christian home by loving, caring and supportive parents and grandparents. He was taught the right path to take, he was not raised to commit crimes of any nature; however, with that statement being said, no matter how well you bring your children up, you, the parent, cannot help or control how they act as an adult. They make their own choices and sometimes, like with Brandon, they are not good choices. I know personally how much his family loved him and tried to help him. No one can say what was going through Brandon's mind at this point that made him commit this crime. Only he and God know that, and only God can judge him for what he's done. My sympathies are for his family left behind, having lost what was once a very loving, amazing little boy.

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