IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — A homicide investigation is underway after a homeowner shot and killed an intruder in Iredell County Wednesday morning, police said.
Drugs and illegal weapons were found inside the home, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also investigating, police said.
Kelvin Ramone Velez, 20, of Charlotte, died from the shooting at the scene.
Homeowner Jackson Tyler, who was the only other person in the home, said a woman knocked on the door and then the victim rushed in with a gun and was shooting at him, the sheriff said.
Tyler said he ran from the man shooting at him and then turned, and the man was laying in the living room dead, Sheriff Darren Campbell said.
Tyler’s initial statement was that he didn’t know the man or how he got shot.
Authorities said the two men did know each other and that Tyler waited about an hour before anyone called 911.
Investigators searched the home and found marijuana and about 3,000 tablets of what appeared to be ecstasy, police said.
Tyler has a criminal history and was not allowed to have firearms and was making silencers and other firearm components in his home, police said.
Velez did not shoot at Tyler, police said.
Tyler later told investigators he might have had a gun and might have tripped and accidentally shot Velez.
But based on evidence, Tyler was arrested and charged with murder.
He will face additional drug felony charges.
Tyler is being held at the Iredell County Detention Center without bond.
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