Trial to begin for man charged in deputy involved shooting

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The trial of Darius Hester is set to start tomorrow. Jury selection began today.

Hester was charged with attempted first degree murder and assault with a weapon on a government official in August of 2013. 

Witnesses said Hester was walking down Rockhill Road in Castle Hayne before he was shot by Deputy Joshua Cranford. In a letter District Attorney Ben David sent to the SBI during the investigation, David said Cranford was lucky to be alive and that both Cranford and a witness said the deputy only shot after Hester first tried to use his own weapon.

The deputy returned to work in September of 2013 after an internal investigation found he had not violated any department policies or procedures.