The suspect in a shooting near Wilson’s Mills late-Saturday is in custody. Around 10:30am today (Monday), the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office said 68 year-old David McKinney walked up to a home on Powhatan Road and rang the door and asked for help. Deputies were on the scene minutes later and took him into custody.
McKinney had been the focus of an intensive manhunt Saturday after he shot a woman in the hip during a dispute over money, according to Chief Deputy Bengie Gaddis.
When the first deputy arrived on the scene of the shooting on Fire Department Road Saturday afternoon he encountered McKinney and the shooting victim outside his residence. The deputy gave first aid to the victim as McKinney fled behind the home.
Gaddis said officers were uncertain if McKinney, who was considered armed and dangerous, had barricaded himself inside his home, was hiding inside one of several storage barns on his property, or had fled on foot into a heavily wooded area.
The sheriff’s office tactical team responded and secured the scene but McKinney had managed to escape from the area .
Chief Deputy Gaddis said McKinney was disoriented due to the exposure to the cold weather. He identified himself to deputies and did not resist arrest. He was not armed.
McKinney was immediately transported to the hospital for evaluation. Afterwards he will be taken to the Johnston County Jail and charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill. More charges are anticipated. Chief Deputy Gaddis said McKinney is a convicted felon.
As for the shooting victim, she is out of the hospital. Authorities did not release her name but said McKinney and the victim were in a previous dating relationship. The woman lives on the property in a RV.
Numerous law enforcement officers had been searching for McKinney since the shooting. Saturday night residents within a half-mile radius of the shooting were asked to shelter in place as a precaution. A section of Fire Department Road was also closed Saturday night while the manhunt was underway. Photos by John Payne
