Woman called 911, prayed after finding body in Shelby woods

SHELBY, N.C. — Authorities in Shelby were on the scene of an apparent homicide Thursday morning.

Officers were called to the scene on Warren Street, not far from the police department, around 7:15 a.m.

A witness told Channel 9 that officers said the victim was a teenage boy. Police said the victim, Delavin Card, was found with a gunshot wound to his lower back.

Neighbors said they heard what sounded like a gunshot late Wednesday night.

Channel 9 crews could see a large police presence where a wooded area was roped off with crime scene tape near the Stonehenge Townhomes.

Ricki Martin lives nearby and found the body. She told Channel 9 she called 911 and then prayed.

"Somebody is missing a child this morning...it's horrible," she said. "I prayed the angels around them in peace because that's what they are going to need right now."

Alvin Card can't believe his cousin was shot to death.

"My heart is gone. It's crushed," Card said.

Detectives are still investigating and no arrests have been made.

"We are going to work this back and try to find out what happened, why it happened, where it happened," Shelby Police Chief Jeff Ledford said.

Anyone with information can contact the Shelby Police Department or Cleveland County Crime Stoppers at 704-481-TIPS.

Cox Media Group