By Trend News Line 2024-06-14 09:00:00.
**North Carolina Man Sentenced for Blue Ridge Parkway Assault**
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A North Carolina man, Evan William Blankenship, found himself in hot water after using Snapchat to track down and attack a couple on the picturesque Blue Ridge Parkway. The incident took place at the Waterrock Knob Overlook, a popular spot along the scenic route, on September 28.
**Snapchat Stalking Leads to Assault**
According to court documents, Blankenship, 22, had met a woman online and tried to meet her in person. When she declined his advances, he resorted to using Snapchat’s location feature to locate her at the overlook. Armed with a semi-automatic gun, Blankenship confronted the couple in their car in the early hours of the morning.
**Violent Encounter Unfolds**
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National Park Service officials reported that Blankenship brandished his weapon, firing a shot into the air before threatening the couple. He attempted to pull the woman, identified as “L.P.,” out of the vehicle by her arm and hair, striking her in the face and causing temporary hearing loss. The male in the car, identified as “L.M.,” managed to persuade Blankenship to release them after promising not to report the incident to the authorities.
**Legal Consequences**
Initially facing five charges, including kidnapping and assault with a dangerous weapon, Blankenship struck a plea deal and pleaded guilty to possession and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Chief Judge Martin Reidinger sentenced him to 10 years in federal prison, with an additional three years of supervised release.
**Snapchat’s Role in the Crime**
The victim revealed that she had only met Blankenship once before and their interactions were limited to Snapchat. She believed that Blankenship had used the app’s location-sharing feature to track her down on the overlook, highlighting the potential dangers of social media platforms.
**Snapchat Safety Measures**
Following the incident, Snapchat introduced features allowing users to control who can view their location. The app advises users to share their location only with people they know, regularly monitor privacy settings, and be cautious about sharing personal information on platforms like Snap Map.
**Maximum Sentences Avoided**
Blankenship narrowly avoided the maximum penalties for his charges, which included potential life sentences for kidnapping and assault. The discharge of his firearm could have added further years to his prison term, emphasizing the severity of his actions.
**Conclusion**
In a troubling turn of events, a seemingly harmless online interaction escalated into a violent assault on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Blankenship’s sentencing serves as a reminder of the real-world consequences of online behaviour and the importance of exercising caution when interacting with strangers on social media platforms..
“Man used Snapchat in Blue Ridge Parkway attack”
“Man sentenced for using Snapchat in Blue Ridge Parkway attack”.
