Man sentenced for carjacking and shooting postal worker in the face in Madison Co.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSPA) – A man was sentenced to 24 years in prison for carjacking and shooting a postal worker in the face during a crime spree in Madison County.
In April of 2024, 25-year-old Jaden Isaiah Garay of Weaverville pleaded guilty to carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and a weapons charge.
According to officials, Garay stole a semiautomatic handgun from a relative's home, along with ammunition. Garay then proceeded to drive down on Interstate-26 near Mars Hill, where he then shot into a passing vehicle. The bullet shattered the front passenger window, but did not hit the occupants.
Garay then drove into the town of Mars Hill, where he abandoned his car and proceeded to break into a house and threaten the homeowner before fleeing the scene. As Garay was walking around the neighborhood, he encountered a postal carrier for the United States Postal Service who was delivering mail in her Jeep Wrangler. Garay approached the postal worker and demanded she give her car while threatening her with the gun. The victim attempted to comply with Garay's demand, but had to pull forward slightly to exit the vehicle because her door was blocked by a mailbox. Garay then shot her in the face, and the victim fell out of her vehicle. Garay then drove off with the victim's vehicle, leaving the postal worker on the ground with a gunshot wound to her head.
Garay drove the stolen Jeep onto Interstate-40, and was spotted by law enforcement. The pursuit ended with Garay exiting the interstate attempting to escape on backroads. He eventually came to a dead end where he abandoned the victim's Jeep and fled on foot. Officers searched for Garay, who spent the night hiding in the woods. Early the next morning, Garay was taken into custody and the stolen firearm was recovered.
The postal worker sustained life-threatening and permanent injuries from the gunshot wound.
In addition to his prison sentence, Garay was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $640,582.81 to the victim, and $73,868.14 to the Office of Worker's Compensation Program.
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