GASTONIA, N.C. — A 23-year-old man was arrested and charged after Gastonia police said he shot and killed his stepfather this week during an argument.
Police said Braxton Devin Farquhar, 34, of Gastonia, was found shot to death just after 10:30 p.m. Wednesday outside his home along West Sixth Avenue.
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Detectives named his stepson, Christopher Lee Hill, 23, as the suspect in the shooting.
Authorities took out a warrant for Hill’s arrest on Thursday. He turned himself in and was charged with first-degree murder.
The prosecutor said Friday in court that neighbors witnessed Hill shooting his stepfather on the night of the argument.
“There are 17 gunshot wounds to the victim’s body,” prosecutor Stephanie Hamlin said.
Hamlin told the judge several shots went into the unarmed stepfather’s back.
Hill told the judge he was a victim.
“That man abused me verbally and physically,” Hill said Friday in court.
Neighbor Crystal Lambert said Hill grew up with her children.
“A son is gone,” Lambert said. “A father is gone. A husband is gone.”
Lambert said Hill is like a son to her.
“Chris is not a bad guy,” Lambert told Channel 9.
She called him a gentle giant who refused to play middle school football, fearing he would hurt someone.
Lambert said Hill went out of his way to avoid confrontation.
“He doesn’t have a mean bone in his body,” Lambert said.
She doesn’t believe Hill would hurt anyone unless he was provoked.
He hired an attorney and is in jail under no bond.
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