A violent family dispute turned fatal on Saturday morning when 36-year-old Lomark Dean Cameron was shot and killed by his relative, 59-year-old Darrin Leroy Perry, following a heated argument that erupted into a physical confrontation.
The incident, which took place in Perry’s apartment at 1449 Peace Court, has left the family and the local community reeling with grief and unanswered questions. Perry has since been arrested and charged with felony murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, shedding light on a complex case that highlights the devastating impact of family violence.
Details of the Incident: A Family Dispute Turns Deadly
The tragedy unfolded around 7:55 a.m. on Saturday, according to the Winston-Salem Police Department. Officers were dispatched to the address on Peace Court after receiving a report of a shooting.
When they arrived, they found Cameron lying in the apartment with a severe gunshot wound to his upper torso. Despite their attempts to render lifesaving assistance, Cameron succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Cameron had been spending time with Perry, who is a close relative, at the latter’s apartment when the two got into a verbal dispute.
According to police, the disagreement quickly escalated from shouting into physical violence, ultimately leading Perry to retrieve a firearm. At some point during the altercation, he fired a fatal shot, striking Cameron in the upper torso and ending his life.
The shocking nature of this incident has left the family grieving and the community stunned. Witnesses from the apartment complex described the scene as chaotic, with several neighbors expressing disbelief that such a tragic event could unfold in an otherwise quiet residential area. “We heard shouting, then the gunshot. It’s heartbreaking that a family argument could end like this,” said a neighbor who lives near Perry’s apartment.
Arrest and Charges Against Perry
Police arrested Perry at the scene, where he cooperated with officers during the initial investigation. He was taken into custody without incident, and the Criminal Investigations Division immediately took over the case, analyzing the circumstances surrounding the deadly encounter.
Following a brief assessment of the situation and with mounting evidence of the fatal shot fired by Perry, investigators charged him with felony murder and felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Perry was then transported to the Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center, where he is being held without bond until his initial court appearance, which is scheduled for Monday, November 4.
Perry’s criminal history reportedly includes previous felony convictions, which legally prohibit him from possessing a firearm. The exact nature of these past offenses has not been disclosed by authorities, but this restriction added a further layer of complexity to the charges he now faces.
If convicted, Perry could be looking at a lengthy prison sentence, possibly even life imprisonment given the gravity of the offense and his prior record.
The police emphasized that this was an isolated incident, assuring the community that there is no ongoing threat stemming from the altercation. Chief of Police Thomas Ellison addressed the public on Saturday evening, stating, “This tragedy serves as a painful reminder of how quickly family disagreements can spiral out of control.
Our hearts go out to those affected, and we are doing everything in our power to ensure a thorough investigation and a measure of justice for Lomark Dean Cameron.”