Witnesses say victim in fatal shooting was friends with man accused in death

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police have a man in custody for the death of a 52-year-old man shot and killed in Charlotte on Saturday morning.

Police said Gregory Jones willingly came to the police department and has been charged with involuntary manslaughter. Police said the suspect and victim knew each other. People who knew them said they were friends.

"As I was coming across the bridge, I heard the shot," witness Jarrette Hayes said. "Ten minutes later -- cops, ambulance."

IMAGES:  Police investigate fatal shooting on Lucky Penny Street

Police were called to a bar on Lucky Penny Street around 2:45 a.m. They found the victim Timothy Covington in the parking lot. He had been shot and died before Medic could get him to a hospital.

"The camaraderie that they have, it's hard to believe this happened," friend David Williams said.

Williams grew up with Covington and also knows the man behind bars accused of Covington's death. He said Jones was friends with the victim. He doesn't understand how this happened.

"Probably for something that was really senseless. That's what makes it a shame," Jones said.

Over 6 feet tall, Covington's friends say he was a gentle giant.

"We've been friends for years," Williams said. "We grew up together. We rode buses together. We drove buses together. We played football together. We laughed. We cried. He's a good guy, a good guy."

Williams said he will be remembered most for his sense of humor.

"Great sense of humor, fun guy, always did something that would make you laugh," Williams said.

Police are still trying to determine exactly what led up to the shooting.

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