Ex-Councilman Indicted in Marine's Shooting

A former Fayetteville City Council member was indicted Wednesday on attempted murder and aggravated assault charges in connection with the shooting of a Marine reservist during a fight last fall.

A grand jury indicted Steve Satisky on the following charges: attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and misdeameanor assault with a deadly weapon.

Cpl. John Lake III was shot in the head on Oct. 16 in a Bragg Boulevard parking lot, police said. He remains in a coma at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

Satisky, who owns a pawn shop, was a City Council member in the 1970s and was on the Cumberland County Alcoholic Beverage Control Board at the time of the shooting. He has since resigned his position and has kept a low profile in recent months.

"Mr. Satisky and his family are obviously saddened by the decision to press forward with charges in this matter. He believes there has been no wrongdoing and that he will be exonerated when this matter is concluded," attorney David Courie said in a written statement Wednesday.

Satisky will surrender to police on Thursday, Courie said.

No charges were filed in the case before evidence was presented to the grand jury, and Fayetteville police were tight-lipped about their investigation for months after the shooting.

Investigators have refused to speculate on a motive for the shooting, but police radio traffic from that night indicated there had been a fight.

Courie has said that Satisky suffered a blow to the head in the incident.

Lake, an Iraq War veteran, returned to the U.S. last summer with an injured shoulder, but remained on active duty. His family couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.