Wayne County authorities have arrested a suspect for allegedly shooting a man in the chest.
Around 2:30pm Friday, the Wayne County 911 Center received a report of a shooting on Forehand Road near Pikeville. Deputies arrived and found 31 year-old James Lassiter Barnes III in the yard of a nearby home at 322 Forehand Road suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. Officers determined the shooting occurred at 786 Forehand Road and went to that address.
Upon arrived at 786 Forehand Road, deputies said several people ran inside the home and closed the door. They refused to obey commands of the deputies, authorities said in a press released. Deputies took up defensive positions and ordered everyone inside the residence to exit. After a short period, four individuals exited the house obeying orders issued by law enforcement.
One of the individuals, Christopher Paul Copeland, 39, of 786 Forehand Road, Pikeville was charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. Copeland was placed in the Wayne County Detention Center under a $35,000 bond.
Barnes was transported and treated at Wayne UNC Hospital for treatment of his gunshot wound. He is expected to recover.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is still ongoing and additional charges are expected.
