ASHEVILLE, N.C. – In a chilling case of armed aggression on the Blue Ridge Parkway, 23-year-old Evan William Blankenship from Whittier, N.C., has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for his attempted kidnapping and use of a firearm during an assault.
According to Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Blankenship pleaded guilty to possession and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The incident occurred on September 28, 2023, when he confronted L.P. and L.M. at Water Rock Knob Overlook, pointing a semi-automatic pistol at them and attempting to abduct L.P.
Blankenship’s violent actions included pulling L.P. by the hair and arm, threatening both victims, striking L.P. in the face with permanent hearing loss as a result, and discharging his firearm into the air for dramatic effect. It was only after L.M.’s courage that the attackers were allowed to flee.
The victims reported the incident immediately, leading to Blankenship’s arrest on October 11, 2023. Since then, he has been in federal custody, awaiting today’s sentence. Debra A. Flowers, Acting Chief Ranger of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and U.S. Attorney King were present for the announcement.
King extended her gratitude to both the National Park Service for their diligent investigation and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for their collaborative efforts in bringing Blankenship to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex M. Scott prosecuted the case on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville.
Blankenship will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility, where he will serve his sentence followed by three years of supervised release.
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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