2 Mooresville men assaulted during home invasion

Mooresville police said two men were assaulted during a home invasion robbery early Tuesday in the 500 block of Pitt Street, off South Academy Street just south of downtown.

Police identified the victims as Harlem Gabriel, 76, and Tyrone Simpson, 53.

Police said the men were assaulted by two assailants who broke through a rear door about 3 a.m.

The intruders fired shots, striking Gabriel in his left hand and wounding a dog, police said.

WBTV, the Observer’s media partner, reported that the victims had been pistol whipped.

The intruders took money, police said one of the victims told them.

Gabriel was taken to Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in Mooresville and was later transferred to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, police said. Simpson was taken to Lake Norman Regional, where he was treated and released, a hospital spokeswoman said. Gabriel’s condition wasn’t available Tuesday.

Iredell County Animal Control officers transported the injured dog to their facility. The dog’s condition also was not available.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Mooresville Police Department at 704-664-3311 or the Mooresville-South Iredell Crime Stoppers at 704-658-9056.

This story was originally published May 19, 2015 at 11:43 AM with the headline "2 Mooresville men assaulted during home invasion."