Roger Self Incident & 911 Call
On a seemingly ordinary Sunday in Bessemer City, North Carolina, a family lunch at the Surf and Turf Lodge turned into a horrifying tragedy. Roger Self, a 62-year-old man, intentionally drove his vehicle into the restaurant where his family was dining, causing the death of his daughter and daughter-in-law and injuring several others.
Roger Self was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and was held at Gaston County Jail. His court appearance was scheduled for the following Monday afternoon.
Among the victims was Katelyn Self, Roger's daughter. Katelyn was a deputy at the Gaston County jail and had been serving the Gaston County Sheriff's Office for four years. She was off duty at the time of the incident. The Gaston County Sheriff's Office expressed their heartbreak over the loss, asking for thoughts and prayers for Katelyn's family, friends, and her brothers and sisters in uniform.
Amanda Self, Roger's daughter-in-law, was also a victim of the tragic incident. Amanda was a nurse manager in the emergency department at CaroMont Regional Medical Center. Her colleagues remembered her as an exceptional nurse, a respected leader, and a caring friend. CaroMont Health expressed their sorrow over the loss on their Facebook page.
The incident left the community in shock. Gaston County Sheriff Alan Cloninger described the event as a "tragic, tragic loss of life," and asked people to keep the family and the sheriff's office in their prayers.
Austin Rammell, the pastor at Venture Church, revealed that Roger Self had been dealing with mental illness issues and had sought medical help in recent months. He encouraged the family, stating that the incident was not a conscious act by their father.
Melissa McMahan, the owner of the restaurant, confirmed that no staff members were harmed during the incident. She expressed her support for the affected family and vowed to rebuild, acknowledging that the event had forever changed their lives.
