Family, friends grieving after Franklin County man shot, killed with his own gun

Richard “Ricky” Knott was involved in a dispute over the purchase of a vehicle at a mobile home on Bethlehem Church Road on Nov. 8 when a handgun fell out of his pocket, Chief of Staff Terry Wright of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office said Monday.

According to officials, Knott was shot five times with the gun before being rushed for medical care to WakeMed in Raleigh, where he died.

Relatives said Knott was shot in the back during the dispute.

No charges are pending at this time, but Wright said that, after deputies gather information, they will meet with county prosecutors to determine how to proceed.

Knott's relatives and his friends gathered Tuesday at City of Oaks Funeral Home & Cremations to say farewell to him.

Kiersten Sneetin, who lives next door to where the shooting occurred, said she returned home and was shocked by the presence of law enforcement officers.

"I came home, and there were a bunch of officers out here," she said, adding that she immediately texted her friend who lives in the home to find out what was going on. "I said, ‘Are you OK?’"

Investigators say Knott initially left after the dispute but returned later, and the dispute resumed.

A gun in Knott's pocket fell out, and someone grabbed the weapon, shooting him five times.

Sneetin said her friend inside the home was terrified.

"It got out of hand," she said.

The home is empty as investigators try to piece together exactly what happened inside.

The district attorney said his office has received the case, but he has not personally seen it, so he could not comment.

Knott's family says he is survived by a fiancee and a 4-year-old son.