Man cleared in shooting pleads to firearm charge

THOMASVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A Thomasville man cleared in the shooting death of his daughter's boyfriend has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon.

Clifton Gregory Dennis entered the plea in Davidson County Superior Court. The 56-year-old Dennis was sentenced Thursday to six months in prison and three years of supervised probation.

The charge stemmed from an incident on Jan. 19. Assistant District Attorney Greg Brown said David Rayvon Braswell had come to the house drunk and had grabbed Dennis' daughter by the throat while she held their baby.

Brown said Dennis, who lived in another part of the house, heard his daughter scream, grabbed a .22-caliber rifle and fired a shot over Braswell's head.

Brown said Braswell reached for Dennis, who fired a second time and hit Braswell, killing him.