BLADENBORO — Two Elizabethtown men have been arrested and charged with the Thursday morning murder of a Clarkton man on Elkton Road.
Bladen County Sheriff Jim McVicker said the shots were fired before 9 a.m.
“Our 911 center received a call … reporting an individual with a gunshot wound to the head, “said McVicker. “Officers and EMS responded to the scene, where they found the victim, Bryan Bellamy, lying in the yard.
He added that Bellamy was pronounced dead at the scene by Assistant Bladen County Coroner Kenneth Clark.
McVicker said there were other people at the residence at the time of the shooting and they provided law enforcement with the names of two suspects and a description of their car.
“The incident started when, according the witnesses, a car pulled up in the yard and the driver blew the horn,” McVicker said. “Bellamy walked outside to talk to the occupants and was shot by an individual in the car. The car then left and the witnesses called 911.”
Law enforcement broadcast a description of the suspects and their vehicle. Law enforcement also spoke with members of the suspect’s families and asked their assistance. At about 11 a.m., the two voluntarily came to the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office in Elizabethtown and, after being interviewed, the two were charged with first-degree murder.
Arrested was Christopher Jaquan Smith, 24, of Clarkton and Haywood Lee Lewis, 38, of Elizabethtown. Both men were placed in the Bladen County Jail without bond pending a first appearance hearing.
“We are still investigating this incident and have more interviews to do and forensic evidence to process,” said McVicker. “We do not have a motive for this murder. We have heard possible reasons but have yet to identify the actual motive. The victim and suspects knew each other.”
W. Curt Vincent can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.
