Yorky Pud

Two suspected robbers of a high-stakes home game in Raleigh, North Carolina have been shot, one fatally, on Monday night, according to police reports. Police were called to a house shortly after 2300 and they discovered 28-year old Brandon Dwain Shelton's dead body inside and the injured 23-year old Brian Matthew Onley laying on the lawn nursing a gunshot to one of his arms.

One of the witnesses recalled how two men burst into the property wearing ski masks and hoods and carrying guns in an attempt to rob the players participating in the home game, which had been billed as high-stakes. It is currently unknown who was responsible for the shootings but the fatally wounded Shelton was killed with his own gun, police can reveal.

Caren Freundlich, a neighbour, said she heard as many as five gunshots but she hoped they were actually fireworks. "I always tell my kids that this is a safe neighbourhood," said Freundlich before adding, "It's really unsettling that it would happen right here."

Other neighbours and witnesses told police and reporters that Gregg Maluchnik regularly held well attended home games and that there was never any trouble. Police confirmed that they have never been called to Maluchnik's property previously. Maluchnik was charged with a misdemanour gambling offence.

Police are still interviewing those present at the home game in an attempt to establish what happened and how both robbers were shot. The surviving robber, Onley, has since received treatment for his gunshot wound and when he was released from hospital on Wednesday he was charged by police with 11 counts of armed robbery and two counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery. He is currently being held in the Wake County jail with a $1,150,000 bond on his head.