Soccer Action

North Greenville's Brooke Domingo reacts as Belmont Abbey players celebrate a goal by Ananda Gebreyesus during the soccer match at Belmont Abbey on Saturday October 6, 2012.

Lees-McRae goalkeeper Kaitlyn Briggs dives for the ball as Belmont Abbey's Ananda Gebreyesus attempts a shot on goal during the soccer match at Belmont Abbey on Wednesday September 26, 2012.

The graduations

Paula Regalado celebrates after receiving her diploma during the Belmont Abbey College commencement program on Saturday May 12, 2012 in front of the Belmont Abbey Basilica in Belmont. Regalado was named Student of the Year later in the program.

Enjoy a few photos from the graduations I covered in the past few weeks. I only shot five this year, which is down one or two from previous years.

Carmen McMillan puts on her hood  during the Belmont Abbey College commencement program on Saturday May 12, 2012.

People cheer for graduates as they receive their diplomas during Kings Mountain High's graduation exercises in John Gamble Stadium on Friday June 8, 2012.

Peyton John Woodman, facing, embraces Mikael Anton McCollum after Highland School of Technology's graduation ceremony for the class of 2012 on Saturday June 9, 2012.

Webb St. Shooting

People who are reportedly family members of the victim console one another at the scene where a woman was shot and killed and another injured at 1655 N. Webb St. on Wednesday March 28, 2012.

Gastonia Police tackle a man identified by relatives as Toshawn Adams after he charged through police tape chasing after another man during a small riot that broke out after a large crowd of onlookers had gathered at the scene on N. Webb Street.

Gastonia Police detain a man who took part in a small riot at the scene.

Two people console one another at the scene.

South Point Homicide

Trey Gercak consoles Allison McCall, right, and a Gaston County Police officer talks with McCall's mother as police investigate the death of McCall's sister, Christina McCall, in front of the home at 129 Midwood Lane near Belmont late Sunday August 28, 2011.

Christina McCall was reportedly ending her relationship with her boyfriend of three years,Franklin Janell White, when he shot and killed her in front of her home where she lived with her parents and teenage son.

White died later Monday morning in a shootout with York County Sheriff's officers who were attempting to arrest him on a warrant for first-degree murder.

More details in this developing story from The Gaston Gazette

Runner Up

Alexandria Freeman, from right, and Beth Smith celebrate after it was announced that Malyn Bailey was the 1st runner up, leaving Freeman and Smith to be crowned Miss Gaston County 2012 and Miss Gastonia 2012 respectively, during the Miss Gastonia Scholarship Pageant at Gaston College on Sunday August 7, 2011.

Memorial

Angie Allen, left, lights a candle for her daughter Leann Allen, 8, during a memorial for 2-year-old Addison Lanham in the parking lot of the Exxon station on Edgewood Road in Bessemer City on Saturday July 23, 2011.

Lanham was transported by ambulance from the adjacent America's Best Inn on Thursday and died at the hospital shortly thereafter from an untreated broken leg and sepsis (blood poisoning). The child's mother and registered sex offender boyfriend both face charges in the death.

Hartford Drive Homicide

A family member consoles a woman who made statements indicating that she was the mother of a man found dead at 2102 Hartford Drive off of Hudson Boulevard on Friday June 17, 2011.

Read my original story here, and the follow up with details here.

Guns drawn, Gastonia police officers prepare to enter and clear a home at 2102 Hartford Drive where a man, covered with a yellow tarp, was found shot in the chest in the front yard just before 10:00pm on Friday June 17, 2011. 

Neighborhood children watch as Gastonia police investigate the murder.

Conference Carolinas Championship

Pfeiffer players celebrate after Belmont Abbey's Connie Axiotis, right, missed an overtime penalty kick giving the victory to Pfeiffer in the Conference Carolinas Championship match on Saturday November 6, 2010 at Alumni Field. 

Belmont Abbey's Rebecca Mateo wins a header during the match.

Full gallery at Gaston Gazette

A referee tries to break up a fight that broke out between Belmont Abbey and Pfeiffer players during the heated and emotional match.

Belmont Abbey goalkeeper Anna Donaldson attempts to block an overtime penalty kick.

Belmont Abbey players console one another after losing to Pfeiffer in overtime penalty kicks.

Emotional Send Off

Ashbrook High School cross country coach Al Hess, left, greets guidance counselor and athletic trainer Larry Carpenter in front of the school during a send off event for Carpenter on Sunday August 15, 2010. Over 150 friends, family members and coworkers gathered to give Carpenter support as he left for Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center to receive a bone marrow transplant to treat an incurable form of cancer he was diagnosed with in February.

Below: Larry Carpenter's family, including niece Ashley Terry, clockwise from top left, daughter Elizabeth Carpenter, 6, Daughter Lauren Carpenter, 11, and niece Anna Barvinek, 7, weep during the send off.

Wilkins Shooting

Tammy Batts, center, is comforted by friends after the body of her friend Tony Wilkins, 41, was brought out of an apartment at 520 Cascade Avenue where Wilkins was shot and killed Wednesday.

Read the full story.

Memorial

Seated with her family, Christine Boone's sister Minnie Jones, second from right, sheds tears Sunday during a memorial service for Boone at East End Baptist Church. Boone is the latest of eight Rocky Mount area women found murdered in recent years under similar circumstances.

Below: The hands of Jackie Wiggins, left, and Diana Nicholson lock together in prayer during the memorial service. Wiggins' daughter Jackie Thorpe and Nicholson's daughter Taraha Nicholson are two of the eight women, including Boone, found murdered in the Rocky Mount area in recent years.

Got the Rings!

All smiles, Tarboro's TaKoby Cofield reacts after seeing his new 2-A state championship ring for the first time during a ceremony for the team Wednesday in the Tarboro High School gym.

This Guy Was Excited

William Johnson celebrates after winning a Chevrolet Blazer in a drawing held Tuesday by BHT Inc. for the top workers at its McDonald's restaurants. Johnson has been without transportation for the past two weeks after his previous vehicle broke down.

State Champs!

Tarboro's Brandon Richardson, above, rallies his team after they defeated Burnsville Mountain Heritage in the 2-A state championship game Friday Dec. 11 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. Burnsville Mountain Heritage defender Clay Parker, below, tackles Tarboro running back Chris Lane Friday.

Tarboro running back Chris Lane, above, was named the offensive player of the game.

Shedding tears of joy, Tarboro's Takoby Cofield, right, walks onto the field with teammates Jamias Williams, center, and Darrius Staton after Tarboro's victory. 

Tarboro's Markell Pettaway shows off the 2-A state championship trophy.

Emotional Rollercoaster

Southern Nash players, above, react as their team takes on South Johnston in overtime during the Eastern Regional final. Only minutes later players try to collect their emotions after losing the game with a blocked extra point attempt.

Victory at the 'Junction'

SouthWest Edgecombe players celebrate following the teams victory over Tarboro in the cross county rivalry game that's become known as the 'Function at the Junction' at SouthWest Edgecombe High School.