Shooting at Paddle Inn: who is Benjamin Michael Campbell? — an investigative account
On Sept. 6, 2025, an altercation at the Paddle Inn Rafting Company in the Nantahala Gorge (Swain County, North Carolina) escalated from a dispute over a political banner into an exchange of gunfire. Local authorities say 37-year-old Benjamin Michael Campbell of the Atlanta area was arrested in Cobb County, Georgia, and extradited to North Carolina on multiple felony counts after the incident. This article compiles what’s verifiable from public records and news reporting, explains what remains unverified, and outlines the lawful steps for anyone who wants to build a fuller, publishable profile.
Lede — the essential facts
According to Swain County deputies and multiple local media accounts, Campbell is accused of removing a pro-Trump banner from the Paddle Inn property. The business owner fired two warning shots from his porch; deputies allege Campbell then raised a pistol through his vehicle’s sunroof and fired multiple rounds toward the owner’s residence/porch. Charges include assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury, discharging a firearm within an enclosure to incite fear, and willful and wanton injury to personal property. He was arrested in Cobb County and extradited to Swain County; bond was reported in local outlets.
Timeline (based on available reporting)
Sept. 6, 2025: Incident at Paddle Inn Rafting Company (Nantahala Gorge / Swain County). Business owner says a vehicle stopped, a man tore down a Trump banner, and an exchange of gunfire followed. CCTV footage and the owner’s statement feature prominently in initial reports.
Early October 2025: Local law enforcement in Cobb County, GA, arrested a man identified as Benjamin Michael Campbell; search warrants were reportedly executed at residences and a vehicle. He was later extradited to North Carolina to face charges filed in Swain County.
What is corroborated (documents and reportage)
The incident occurred at Paddle Inn in Swain County and involved a political banner described in reporting as a “Trump banner.” The business owner’s account and CCTV are cited in multiple outlet stories.
The formal charges and their severity (assault with a deadly weapon; discharging a firearm to incite fear; willful/wanton injury to property) are reported by Swain County law enforcement and regional news outlets.
Arrest and extradition from Cobb County (GA) are reported by local Georgia and North Carolina press, with references to search warrants and booking actions.
These are the load-bearing facts on which any public profile should rely.
What is not verified yet — and why that matters
Political affiliation or party membership: Multiple outlets describe the banner and the owner as pro-Trump, but there is no verified public record or statement in the reporting that confirms Campbell’s party registration, campaign activity, or expressed ideology. Actions (removing a banner) are not equivalent to formal political affiliation; motive has not been authenticated in publicly available documents. Avoid treating the alleged action as definitive proof of partisan identity without corroboration from court filings, social posts explicitly stating such views, campaign contributions, or voter-registration records.
Professional identity (accountant/CPA): Some secondary outlets and an industry newsletter referenced a CPAVerify lookup connecting the name to an accounting license. That lead has not been independently confirmed with primary license-board records in the reporting I reviewed; it is plausible but unverified until checked at CPAVerify or the Georgia State Board of Accountancy. Treat this as a claim requiring documentary verification before publication.
Complete criminal history / prior convictions: I did not find a definitive, public criminal-record trail tied to Campbell by unique identifiers (DOB, license number). Name collisions are common; matching must rely on multiple unique identifiers to avoid mistaken identity.
Evidence reported so far
Eyewitness / owner statements: The business owner’s account (and reportedly CCTV footage) describes the banner removal, warning shots, and subsequent rounds fired from the suspect’s vehicle. These statements are quoted in local press.
Law-enforcement press release elements: The Swain County Sheriff’s Office issued an arrest notice and outlined the charges — those constitute the government’s charging position available to reporters.
Local booking/transfer details: Multiple outlets reported on the Cobb County arrest and later extradition. That chain — arrest, search warrants, state transfer — is corroborated by local Georgia reporting.
Legal and journalistic cautions
Use the words “alleged” and “accused” when describing Campbell’s conduct until a conviction occurs.
Avoid publishing private, nonpublic information (home addresses, family contact info, unredacted ID numbers) that could facilitate harassment. I will not assist with doxxing or illegal data access.
Cross-check identity carefully — many people share similar names. Confirm matches via DOB, middle name, employer, license numbers, or court case numbers.
Conclusion — what we can responsibly say now
Public reporting and law-enforcement notices establish that Benjamin Michael Campbell has been charged in relation to a Sept. 6, 2025, incident at Paddle Inn in Swain County, in which he is accused of tearing down a pro-Trump banner and firing multiple rounds from his vehicle toward the owner’s residence after a confrontation. He was arrested in Cobb County, extradited to North Carolina, and faces serious felony charges. Those are the verifiable facts. What remains unconfirmed are Campbell’s political beliefs, party affiliation, prior criminal history, and whether any professional license (CPA) reported in secondary outlets actually belongs to the same individual — each of which demands the primary-document checks outlined above before they may be published as fact.
