Burke County Woman Pleads Guilty To Shooting Into Occupied Dwelling

A woman has been sentenced to a minimum prison term of more than nine years for shooting into an occupied home. Last week, 33-year-old Samantha Danielle Norton of Morganton entered a guilty plea to felony counts of discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling and possession of a firearm by a felon. She was given the maximum sentence of 97-129 months for the discharging a firearm charge followed by 19-32 months for the firearm possession offense. The total sentence is nine years, eight months to twelve years, five months.

On May 13, 2025, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office responded to an address on Mill Race Road in Morganton after shots were reported to have been fired into an occupied residence. During the investigation, Samantha Danielle Norton was identified as the shooter and warrants were issued for her arrest. The day after the incident, Norton was found at the Exxon station at 1504 Bethel Road in Morganton and was taken into custody without incident. As of earlier today, Norton remained in custody at the Burke County Jail.

Story: Rob Eastwood-WHKY