Two die in suspected murder, suicide

Graham Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers are investigating a shooting which occurred Friday in the 1400 block of Avenue D resulting in the deaths of two Graham men.

According to a press release from GPD, there was a disagreement between the two neighbors, Joshua Dale Noggle, 33, of Graham, and Joe Donald Sledge, 67, of Graham. The release said the  two men shared a history of disagreements, but the case was still under investigation by the two departments. 

GPD officers were dispatched to the 1400 block of Avenue D the afternoon of Sept. 6 in response to a call of a person who had reportedly been shot. The caller also said the suspected shooter, Sledge, had walked back into his home.

GPD arrived and heard a single gunshot come from inside the suspected shooter’s home. Officers and YCSO deputies arrived and took up a position of cover around the suspected shooters home.

An off-duty GPD officer and a neighbor in the area located Noggle who was shot and began performing first aid. The officer and neighbor had to pull Noggle away from the suspected shooters home to a safe location to perform first aid.

He was then transported by Graham EMS to Graham Regional Medical Center. While at GRMC, he was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Jason Hearne from his injuries.
DPS and GPD attempted to make contact with Sledge, who was barricaded in his home and negotiations were unsuccessful. Members of the DPS Special Response Unit entered the residence and located Sledge who had died from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound.

For the rest of the story, see the Wednesday, Sept. 11 edition of The Graham Leader.