Autopsy: Clayton Man Died From Gunshot Wound To Chest

The NC Medical Examiner’s Office has released an autopsy report on a Clayton man who was murdered inside his residence on July 2nd.

Responding to a 2:00am 911 call, Clayton Police found Garrett Howard Bridges, 25, dead inside his home at 68 Herndon Court in the Mitchiner Hills neighborhood.

The autopsy, which was released late Monday, said Bridges died as a result of a gunshot wound to his right chest resulting in injuries to his right lung and internal bleeding.  The medical examiner determined his cause of death was due to homicide.

Bridges has been released from prison just three months earlier.

The NC SBI has been assisting with the case but as of last report no arrests have been made.  Police believe Bridges knew the suspect or suspects who took his life.  The July murder was the first fatal shooting in Clayton since 2014. Photos by John Payne