As the NC State Bureau of Investigation delves into the death of Michael Sipes, the 17-year-old’s friends and neighbors have questions, too.
Sipes was shot and killed late Sunday night in an incident involving the Morganton Department of Public Safety.
Neighbors said the residents of Independence Park on Air Park Drive are a close-knit community. There’s not much that doesn’t escape anyone’s attention.
So when they heard gunshots around midnight Sunday, neighbors from different ends of the mobile home park were stunned to learn Sipes was involved.
The neighbors, who did not want to be identified, said Sipes was a good-hearted boy who would “give you the shirt off his back.”
Neighbors said Sipes kept to himself but was always willing to help out family and friends.
For instance in April, Sipes reported and turned in drugs he found on Freedom High School’s campus. According to the Public Safety report, Sipes found a small plastic bag containing a white powdery substance while walking into the building from the student parking lot.
The substance field-tested positive for cocaine, the report said.
Sipes, a Freedom High School student, planned on joining the US Army, roommate Megan Melatt said. He became interested in the Army after joining the ROTC program.
In addition to his interest in ROTC and the Army, Sipes enjoyed hunting and fishing, particularly in God’s Country, Melatt said. He went every chance he got.
Roommate Korey Forney said Sipes spent a lot of time with his younger brother, who lives with his stepmother. Sipes also enjoyed playing football.
Melatt said Sipes would often play with her three children, ages 4 months to 6 years. And he spent this summer working as a maintenance man for the mobile home park.
But although Melatt and Forney remember Sipes as a good-natured boy, they wonder how the situation Sunday got out of hand.
Melatt and Forney both say they never heard police identify themselves.
Just the week before, Morganton Public Safety officers had visited the residence for a noise disturbance and had clearly identified themselves, Melatt said.
She also wonders why the officer fired more than one shot, Melatt said.
Although questions linger, Melatt and Forney said they’ll remember Sipes as a loving guy who was full of life.
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