‘All this over a deer:’ Pender County man speaks out after being attacked by trespassers

PENDER COUNTY (WWAY) — A Pender County man is sharing his story after he said he was attacked over the weekend.

Chris Jordan revealed that the attack happened after he found trespassers on his property. The trespassers had been hunting in the Holly Shelter Game Land. When confronted, they became aggressive.

Jordan leases land off of Shaw Highway near the game land. He and his family use this land to hunt.

He recalled a group of about a dozen hunters using dogs to hunt deer in the game land on Saturday. But, the dogs soon ran the deer onto his property, and the hunters’ shots followed.

Jordan’s nephew confronted the hunters and warned them that they could not shoot on private property. The hunters became hostile, prompting his nephew to call him for help.

“When I got out here, I blocked the drive way so nobody could get out. So I could get to the bottom of what was going on here,” Jordan explained. “I went to go approach one of them and one of them said either I could move my truck, or he’ll move it for me. I said: I ain’t moving nothing until I get to the bottom of all of this because all of y’all are trespassing.”

The hunters then threatened Jordan and soon surrounded him.

“The one behind me hit me and the one in front hit me at the same time,” he continued. “The one behind me grabbed me and held my arms while the ones in front started hitting me. I just put my head down until I broke free.”

After breaking away from the attack, Jordan ran back to his truck. There, he called 911.

Meanwhile, the group of hunters got in their own trucks and drove off, leaving Jordan with fractured bones in his face.

Jordan’s hope is that they won’t be able to hunt again.

“Game land hunting should be a privilege to start with and I hope the state would step in and take [away] their rights for hunting game lands at all. They should be hunting on their own private land, if anything,” he said.

Chase and Zachary Cockman have been charged with trespassing and assault.

Joseph Williamson has been charged with trespassing.

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the Pender County Sherriff’s Office are investigating, and more people may be charged.

Jordan added that the game wardens and the deputies have been great help through the process, and he is grateful for them.