CONCORD, N.C. — Police said two men were found dead inside a Concord apartment Monday morning in a murder-suicide.
Reports of a shooting came in just before 9:30 a.m. at the Candlewood Square Apartments off Lake Concord Road.
Officers made entry into an apartment and located 2 deceased people. Preliminary information is that this is not a random act and there is no continuing threat to the community. The investigation is continuing at this time and residents no longer need to shelter in place. /kee https://t.co/Qg6X0IbEvR
— Concord, NC Police (@ConcordNCPolice) February 17, 2020
Officers said they responded to the apartment complex in reference to a person who had been shot inside one of the apartments during what they called a domestic disturbance.
Authorities did not say what led up to the shooting.
Witnesses told police they saw Jeffrey Lee Fort, 58, on a second-floor porch wearing bloody clothes and carrying a gun.
He also said he shot his roommate, Davon Williams, 35.
Police said the SWAT team knew Fort had gone back inside and that he had a gun so they were prepared to wait it out, which is standard procedure. But, when they heard another shot, they decided to move in.
From Chopper 9 Skyzoom, dozens of police officers with guns drawn could be seen swarming the apartment complex and blocking the entrances and exits. Concord’s SWAT team was also called to the complex and SWAT team members could be seen walking between the buildings and going up and down flights of stairs.
“When I went to go outside, there was a cop outside with his gun drawn telling me to get back inside,” resident David Starnes said.
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“They were able to get the door open and make a visual inspection and see what we had,” Concord Police Maj. Bobby Ledwell said. “Our worry was that we had an injured party inside who needed assistance so that’s why we went ahead and made the decision to go in.”
When SWAT team members made it inside the apartment, they found Fort and Williams dead.
Fort was a former police officer from New Jersey, and Starnes said he seemed like a nice person.
“Just a typical guy. He was a good dude,” Starnes said.
Another resident said he heard the two men arguing late Sunday.
“This was more fluid, a lot faster situation than we’ve seen in the past,” Ledwell said.
Residents were asked to shelter in place throughout the investigation, but police said there is no longer a continuing threat to the community.
Lake Concord Road was also closed from Mall Drive to Memorial Boulevard as police investigated the shooting.
This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for more information.
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