In a shocking incident in North Carolina, a veteran reportedly suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) attempted to run over his wife with a Tesla Cybertruck during a violent outburst. The alarming event unfolded in Garner, a town near Durham, and has left the community reeling.
The individual at the center of this incident is 32-year-old Nathan Lorne Tharp, a resident of Garner. Authorities report that Tharp was experiencing a PTSD episode on Sunday when the situation escalated dramatically. According to police, Tharp not only attempted to strike his wife with the vehicle but also ended up crashing into his neighbor’s property.
Garner Police were alerted to a domestic violence situation around 3 p.m. and promptly responded to the scene. Upon their arrival, officers witnessed Tharp hitting his wife with the Cybertruck, causing her to fall.
As the situation deteriorated, Tharp allegedly tried to hit her again. In an effort to prevent further harm, officers discharged their weapons at Tharp. Despite this intervention, he was uninjured and managed to flee the immediate scene.
In a bid to escape, Tharp drove into his neighbor, Daniel Fontana’s home, causing significant damage. Surveillance footage obtained by WRAL News shows Tharp crashing through the fence multiple times, damaging the front porch’s support pillars and parts of the garage. This dramatic episode has left many in the community shaken as they come to terms with the violence that erupted in their neighborhood.
Uninjured, Tharp ran into his neighbor Daniel Fontana’s home, plowing through his fence four separate times, knocking out support pillars on the front porch, and destroying parts of the garage, photos and surveillance footage obtained by WRAL News showed.
Afterward, he fled into the house causing the home’s residents to flee. Tharp barricaded himself inside.
A SWAT team was called in and spent hours attempting to negotiate for Tharp to come outside, which he eventually agreed too.
Nathan Lorne Tharp, 32, of Garner, near Durham, was allegedly experiencing a PTSD episode on Sunday when police said he tried to run over his wife (pictured on the ground) and hit his neighbor’s house
Tharp attempted to hit his wife again, causing police to draw guns and shot at him. He was uninjured
Tharp ran into his neighbor Daniel Fontana’s home, plowing through his fence four separate times, knocking out support pillars on the front porch, and destroying parts of the garage
He was taken into custody and brought to a hospital for treatment. He was released from the hospital the same night.
Tarp was charged with a slew of crimes, including assault on a law enforcement officer, assault on a female, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury, and domestic violence, among others.
Fontana’s home was left with thousands of dollars worth of damage, with $5,000 worth of damage to his backyard alone.
The experience left Fontana’s stepson, eight, fearsome.
‘He is kind of nervous,’ he told WRAL News. ‘He’s been a bit scared the first night thinking that, you know, what if? What happens if this happens again?’
Neighbors have started a GoFundMe to help the Fontana family repair their home, which has been deemed structurally unsounded.
The fundraiser has raised more than $3,000 of its $5,000 goal.
Garner Police responded to the scene after reports of a domestic violence situation around 3pm
Tharp allegedly caused $5,000 worth of damage to Fontana’s backyard, including creating four holes in his fence
Fontana (right) said his stepson is now scared after the incident on Sunday
The Tharp incident was the second violent confrontation involving a veteran in the state on Sunday, according to WRAL News.
In Johnston County, Anthony Richardson was also suffering from a PTSD episode when he was fatally shot by police.
