A 24-year-old man has been arrested in the shooting death of Christopher Perice Owens, 23, of Garland, who was killed on Wednesday, Nov. 11, on Castle Lane in Harrells.

According to Sampson County District Attorney Dewey Hudson, Evans Brian Cromartie, also of Harrells, has been charged with murder.

“After meeting with Sheriff Jimmy Thornton and detectives and reviewing the evidence, I have decided to file charges against Evans Brian Cromartie,” Hudson said. “He is charged with one count of murder in the shooting death of Christopher Owens.”

According to reports, deputies responded to a “shots fired” call from a resident on Castle Lane around 2:20 p.m. on Nov. 11. The caller advised that they heard “multiple gunshots” from the residence next to them.

When deputies arrived to the scene, they saw the front door of a double-wide trailer was partially open. After several attempts to get any occupants to come out, the deputies entered the home.

Owens was found deceased on the living room floor of the trailer. The deputies also observed multiple bullet holes in the walls of the residence.

While investigators were processing the crime scene on Castle Road, Cromartie appeared at the Sheriff’s Office in Clinton in regard to the shooting on Castle Lane.

Cromartie had a gunshot wound to his shoulder area and was transported to Sampson Regional Medical Center for treatment. It was not clear what had transpired during the incident or why Owens was shot and killed.

Cromartie is currently being held at the Sampson County Detention Center without bond.