A man, who walked into the Sampson County Sheriff’s Department with what appeared to be a gunshot wound late Wednesday afternoon may be tied to a male body officers found earlier in the day at a Harrells-area home.

Officers aren’t saying much yet about the two incidents, but have acknowledged that they could possibly be linked.

The series of events began Wednesday afternoon when investigators received a call of “shots fired” at a home on Castle Lane in Harrells a little after 2:30 p.m. When detectives arrived on scene, they noticed the deceased body of a male lying inside the home, Capt. Eric Pope said Thursday morning.

“A few hours later, a man suffering a non-life threatening gunshot wound showed up at the Sheriff’s Office and was immediately transported to Sampson Regional Medical Center.”

A call to the hospital was not immediately returned Thursday.

Pope would only allow that both men were in their mid-to-late 20s. He declined to release any additional information.

“We are not releasing any names because this is still an open investigation,” he said. “Detectives are still investigating the incident and remain in the process of interviewing witnesses.”

Pope added that the identity of the deceased man wasn’t being released because investigators are trying to locate his next of kin. He also said the incident is being treated as a homicide until it is deemed otherwise.

“Right now, no arrests have been made in this case,” he said.

Anyone with information, should call the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office at 910-592-4141.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.