A family confrontation in Clinton has turned into a criminal case, with 29-year-old James Franklin Lockamy of Roseboro now charged in the death of his father. Investigators say 54-year-old Charles Frankie Long was found dead inside a home in the 100 block of Manuel Lane in Clinton on Dec. 26. Lockamy surrendered to authorities Wednesday and is being held without bond at the Sampson County Detention Center while the investigation continues.
According to ABC11, deputies told reporters Long died from injuries he suffered during a physical altercation with his son. The station reports Lockamy turned himself in Wednesday morning and was formally charged with involuntary manslaughter the same day. Authorities have not released any additional information about a possible motive or other potential charges, and the probe remains active.
Police findings and charging
As outlined by the North Carolina General Assembly, involuntary manslaughter is a felony offense under state law. The statute distinguishes involuntary manslaughter from more serious homicide charges and sets out felony-level penalties for a conviction. Local prosecutors will decide whether to seek further charges as investigators complete their review of the case.
Where the case stands now
ABC11 reports that Lockamy was booked into the Sampson County Detention Center and is being held without bond. Per Sampson County's public information pages, the county operates a detention center and an inmate-search tool for checking custody status. Officials have asked anyone with information about the Dec. 26 incident to contact the Sampson County Sheriff's Office. No court filings with a case number were publicly available at press time.
