03/28/2024
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By: Erin Smith

Two suspects in the shooting death of Bryan Barnette Bellamy Jr., of 1817 Elton Road, Clarkton, made their first court appearance on Friday. The suspects appeared before Judge Pauline Hankins and received court appointed attorneys.

Haywood Lee Lewis, 38, of 4527 US Hwy. 701 South, Elizabethtown, faced Judge Hankins as she read the charge with first-degree murder and Kyle Melvin was appointed as Lewis’ attorney. His next court appearance will be May 12.

Assistant District Attorney Glenn Emery told Judge Hankins that he is expecting the sheriff’s office to file a second charge of discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling.

He also told the court that Lewis has past convictions of common law robbery and a Class C Assault which was reduced to a Class A.  Emery also said that Lewis had convictions in New York under an alias for various drug offenses.

Emery asked that there be no bond set.  Melvin asked that the court consider setting a reasonable bond.

Judge Hankins said that no bond would be set.

Christopher Jaquan Smith, 24, of 94 Cary Kemp Drive, Clarkton, was also charged with first-degree murder. Goldstone Womble was appointed as Smith’s attorney in the matter and Smith’s next court appearance was also scheduled for May 12.

Emery requested that Judge Hankins set no bond. He told the court that Smith has prior convictions for marijuana possession, breaking and entering and larceny. 

Emery also told the court that there are charges forthcoming of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of discharging a weapon into an occupied dwelling.

Emery told the court that based on information he has received, Lewis was likely the driver of the vehicle when Bryan Barnette Bellamy Jr. was shot and killed. Emery told the court that according to information he has received, Smith was a passenger and likely the trigger puller.

Emery said the case meets the criteria of the felony murder theory in North Carolina.

Womble said that his client is presumed innocent at this point and requested a reasonable bond be set.

Judge Hankins said no bail would be set.

Emery said that at least one round was fired that entered into the side of the home and because of that it meets the criteria of the felony murder theory.

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