RFP Staff
♦ Prior to Midnight Saturday a shooting occurred near 205 South Clay Street in Salisbury. Multiple gunshots were reported by neighbors. The Salisbury Police were on scene within 15 minutes as well as an emergency vehicle which transported the shooting victim Christopher Shepherd,44, said to be a relative the murder victim Larry Lamar “Turtle” Cruse, to Novant Rowan Regional Medical Center for treatment. Later he was transported by helicopter to Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. Shepherd was wounded twice in the legs. He was later released.
Salisbury Police sources say Shepherd was shot just outside the house at 205 South Clay Street. The shooter, allegedly Joshua Alexander Hovis, 29, of 425 East Liberty Street in Salisbury, and a second suspect approached Shepherd from behind and shot him twice in the legs. Allegedly Hovis and a second suspect fled the scene in a vehicle.
Later around 1 a.m. the Salisbury Police saw Hovis refueling his car at the BP Gas Station on Statesville Boulevard and West Innes Street. Hovis surrendered to the police without incident and was handcuffed. In a search of Hovis and his vehicle, officers seized a 9 mm handgun, a scale, over $600 in cash, a small amount of marijuana, 8 grams of crack cocaine, 8 grams of cocaine powder, and other items.
A gathering was going on at the house at 205 S. Clay in memory of the murder victim Larry Lamar Cruse who died in the early morning hours on Saturday May 14th. His funeral was on Saturday at Noble & Kelsey Funeral Home.
The Salisbury Police Arrived on South Clay prior to midnight:
Crime is no stranger to the community not far from the Waffle House and Wilco-Hess.
Joshua Alexander Hovis:
Arrested Sunday morning Hovis was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill/inflict serious injury (felony), weapons possession by felon of firearms etc. prohibited (misdemeanor), carry concealed gun (felony), possession control substance schedule II (felony), possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver control substance schedule II (felony), simple possession schedule IV control substances (misdemeanor), and possession of drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor).
Under a secured $200,000 bond, Hovis is in the Rowan County Detention Center. He is scheduled for a hearing May 31st. A second suspect in the shooting is still being sought.
Joshua Alexander Hovis’s Previous Record:
No motives are yet disclosed. The shooting remains under investigation.
If you have any information about this shooting please call the Salisbury Police Department at 704-638-5333 or the Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.
**This is a developing article and will be updated as more information arrives.**
The Corner of East Fisher and South Shaver:
205 South Clay Street:
An investigator remains on the scene in the late morning:
The Rowan Free Press’s Article on the Murder of Larry Lamar Cruse:
The Rowan Free Press’s Article on Johua Aleaxander Hovis’s Arrest in East Spencer for Alleged Weapons-of-Mass-Destruction and Cocaine:
A special thanks to all the neighbors and police officers who assisted in this article!
