Just before nine o’clock last night (February 26), Hickory Firefighters responded to a structure fire at 1513 23rd Avenue Court N.E. in Hickory.  Firefighters responded with three engines, two ladder trucks, one rescue truck and two command units.

Upon arrival, Firefighters reported fire and smoke coming from one side of the duplex apartment building.  No one was home in the side of the duplex where the fire occurred.  The resident is listed on Police reports as a 60-year-old male.  The occupants of the other apartment had exited the structure and were safe.

Firefighters worked to extinguish and contain the fire.  No injuries were reported at the scene of the fire; however, Hickory Police say while they were on the scene, they received a call from a local hospital regarding a male subject in the emergency room suffering from severe burns.  Police believe he may have been burned in the apartment fire.  The burn victim is not a resident of the duplex.  No further information has been released regarding his condition or his identity.

Police say neighbors reported hearing a dispute at the residence prior to the fire.  A search warrant for the residence was issued and executed, but the results of that search have not been released.  The search was completed shortly after 3 a.m. today.

The Red Cross was contacted to assist residents with temporary living arrangements.  

Fire Investigators have determined that the fire was intentionally set.  The incident remains under investigation.  Anyone with information regarding the fire should contact Hickory Police at 828-328-5551 or the Hickory Fire Department’s Division of Fire & Life Safety at 828-323-7522.

More details have been released in the arrest Wednesday (February 25) of 26-year-old Brandon Lashan Lineberger of Pine Avenue in Cherryville. He was initially charged with felony breaking & entering, as reported that same day on WHKY.

Lineberger is the suspect in a February 23 break-in in Claremont that resulted in the death of 47-year-old Vernon Bobby Dixon, who was shot and killed by the homeowner during the incident. Lineberger was taken into custody without incident at his home shortly after eleven o’clock Wednesday morning.

He also faces three additional counts of breaking & entering, two counts each of attempted larceny and injury to personal property, and one count each of larceny after breaking & entering, possession of stolen goods or property and attempted breaking & entering. Those charges are from Burke County.

Lineberger has been confined in the Catawba Co. Detention Facility under a $60,000 secured bond. He will appear in District Court today (February 27) with another court date coming up on March 2, both in Newton.

According to Catawba Co. Sheriff Coy Reid, Lineberger will not be charged in connection to Dixon’s death. The homeowner will not face any charges.

On Wednesday (February 25) Congressman Patrick McHenry (NC-10) welcomed Reverend Randy Cash of Lincolnton, NC to the U.S. House of Representatives to serve as guest chaplain, delivering the chamber's daily prayer.

Reverend Cash is a 26 year veteran of the United States Navy where he served as a Naval Chaplain supporting both the Navy and U.S. Marine Corps in operations around the world. Reverend Cash was in Washington this week for the 55th Annual Conference of the American Legion, for which he currently serves as National Chaplain.

Prior to addressing the House Reverend Cash met with Congressman McHenry, House Speaker John Boehner (OH-08), and the Reverend Patrick J. Conroy, the Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Hickory Police Department is requesting assistance in identifying the woman in this picture. Police are looking to identify her in reference to a recent vehicle breaking and entering in the area. You are asked to contact the Hickory Police Department with any information you may have at 828-328-5551.