Man dies from gunshot wound after domestic altercation

Maria De Los Angeles Brickman

The following press release has been issued by Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Murphy, NC— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the arrest of 53-year-old Maria De Los Angeles Brickman, a part year resident of Cherokee County, North Carolina for Murder. 

Shortly after 10:30 pm on August 26, 2015, Cherokee County Communications received a call for assistance at a Hothouse community address where the caller stated there was a domestic dispute and that the male party had been shot. 

Upon arrival at the residence, the 70-year-old husband of Maria De Los Angeles Brickman was found suffering injuries from an apparent gunshot wound. Lifesaving measures were started by Cherokee County EMS personnel and Mr. Brickman was transported initially to Copper Basin Medical Center and then later airlifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee where he succumbed to his wounds in the early morning hours of August 27, 2015.

During the investigation information became apparent that there had been an argument between Maria De Los Angles Brickman and her husband. Further during the altercation, Brickman’s husband suffered the gunshot wound.  

Maria De Los Angles Brickman, who provided a permanent address in Fort Myers, Florida, was booked into the Cherokee County Detention Center where she is currently being held under no bond on charges of Assault With A Deadly Weapon With Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Bodily Injury and Murder. Brickman is scheduled to appear in Cherokee County District Court on September 2, 2015.

Sheriff Palmer would like to thank Cherokee County EMS, Wolf Creek Fire Department, the District Attorney's Office, and the State Bureau of Investigations for their assistance in this investigation.

To report crime in Cherokee County, call the anonymous tip line at 828-837-1344 or email a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov or call 911 if you observe a crime in progress.

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