A 63-year-old man accused of killing one person and wounding two others in a Monday night shooting outside Gastonia was found hiding in a wooded area early the next morning, ending an hours-long manhunt that drew K9 units and drones. Jeffery Martin now faces first-degree murder and other charges, and he is being held in the Gaston County jail without bond.
Shooting Outside Gastonia Leaves One Dead
According to the Queen City News, officers responded to a shooting on the 1000 block of Old Church Road, outside Gastonia, around 9:30 p.m. Monday. When they arrived, they found one person dead at the scene. That person had not been publicly identified, the outlet reports. A separate search result from WSOC TV similarly describes officers responding to a reported shooting near Old Church Road outside Gastonia at approximately 9:30 p.m., where they found one victim, though the station's full account of the incident was not available for independent review.
A witness gave detectives information identifying the suspect, describing his vehicle, and indicating where he had headed, per the Queen City News report. That tip led officers to locate the suspect's vehicle near Crowders Creek Road, where they attempted a traffic stop.
Chase Ends With Suspect Hiding in the Woods
Martin, the 63-year-old driver identified as the suspect, failed to stop and instead led officers on a pursuit, the station's report states. The chase ended on Stallion Way, off Hoffman Road, where Martin abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot into a nearby neighborhood.
The search for Martin pulled in multiple law enforcement agencies, and Gaston County deployed K9 and drone teams to help track him down, according to the same account. An earlier Yahoo News report captured the search while it was still underway Monday night, noting that officers were combing the area of Hoffman Road west of Gaston Day School Road and that the suspect's identity had not yet been released. During the search, police asked residents to shelter in place and avoid the area if possible, Yahoo News reported.
Martin was found hiding in a wooded area shortly after midnight, and police took him into custody without incident, the Queen City News report notes.
Charges and What Comes Next
Martin was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, larceny of a motor vehicle, and possession of a firearm by a felon, per the outlet. He is being held in the Gaston County jail without bond, and officials say the investigation remains ongoing.
The firearm charge against Martin falls under North Carolina law, which makes it unlawful for a person convicted of a felony to purchase, own, possess, or have custody, care, or control of a firearm, according to the text of G.S. 14-415.1 published by the North Carolina General Assembly.
