Incident Occurs Amid Heated Political Climate
A bullet was fired into the family home of North Carolina GOP congressional candidate Pat Harrigan days before President Joe Biden criticized Republicans over political violence. The incident, which occurred on Oct. 18, damaged the laundry room window of the Hickory, N.C., residence where Harrigan's parents and young daughters were present. No one was injured.
Hickory Police Department responded to the scene following a 911 call from Marla Harrigan, 74, who stated she and her husband James Harrigan were watching television down the hall when the shooting happened. The couple's grandchildren, ages 3 and 5, were asleep in an upstairs bedroom directly above the damaged room but were not awakened by the gunfire. The bullet originated from a densely wooded area nearby.
Family Relocated Following Threat
The children have since been moved out of state "out of an abundance of caution," Marla Harrigan told the Associated Press, adding that her son is urging their parents to leave town temporarily. "It's just disconcerting, especially with the children there," she said. "This campaign is so stressful, and we feel so badly for our son because he's terribly stressed about his children… and now they're gone."
The incident comes as political violence has become a focal point in the midterm election cycle. Biden's recent remarks highlighted the January 6 Capitol attack and the assault on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, but did not address the attempted assassination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh or the fatal hit-and-run of 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson, whose alleged killer cited political motives. Such cases have fueled partisan debates over accountability and rhetoric.
Police have not identified a suspect or determined whether the shooting was politically motivated. Harrigan, a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, is running in North Carolina's newly drawn 14th Congressional District, a competitive race that could influence control of the House. The incident underscores the heightened security concerns faced by political figures ahead of the November elections.