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Man charged with murder after Gaston County shooting, police pursuit

Man charged with murder after Gaston County shooting, police pursuit (GCPD)

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Gaston County Police arrested Jeffery Martin following a fatal shooting Monday night in southern Gaston County.

Officers responded at approximately 9:30 p.m. to a reported shooting at 1027 Old Church Road, outside Gastonia, where they found one victim dead at the scene.

A witness at the scene provided officers with information identifying a suspect, along with a description of the suspect’s vehicle and direction of travel, according to police.

Responding officers spotted the suspect’s vehicle near Crowders Creek Road and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver refused to stop, leading officers on a pursuit that ended on Stallion Way, off Hoffman Road, where the driver abandoned the vehicle and ran on foot into the surrounding neighborhood.

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to assist in the search. Gaston County Police K-9 officers, the Emergency Response Team and the department’s Drone Team searched the area, police said. Shortly after midnight, officers located Martin hiding in a wooded area and arrested him without incident.

Following an interview with Gaston County Police detectives, 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, police said. He was transported to the Gaston County Jail, where he is being held without bond.

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