GATES COUNTY, N.C.
Authorities continued their search Monday for the suspect in a shooting that left a man in critical condition.
The shooting happened Sunday afternoon outside a home near Gatesville at a gathering of several friends, Gates County Sheriff Edward Webb said.
Investigators say they think William Jason Payne, 26, of Gates County, came looking for Willie Earl Hathaway, 42, of Gatesville, Webb said.
"This gentleman pulled up because he had a beef with Mr. Hathaway," Webb said.
Witnesses said an argument started, at which point a man pulled a gun from his car and shot several times at Hathaway, who was in a parked vehicle, Webb said. At least five people saw it, Webb said.
The shooter fled while Hathaway's friends rushed to get help, Webb said. He was listed Monday in critical condition at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, said Dale Gauding, a Sentara spokesman.
Gates County alerted local police Sunday afternoon, and at about 5:25 p.m. a Suffolk officer saw Payne's car downtown, said Lt. D.J. George, a Suffolk spokeswoman.
A woman was alone in the car. Suffolk Police turned her and the vehicle over to Gates County, George said. The woman was Payne's girlfriend, and she cooperated with investigators, Webb said.
Back in Gates County, an officer spotted Payne in the woods near the middle school, and other people reported seeing him, Webb said. Canine units tracked the suspect, but Webb halted the search for the night, he said, because he didn't want to risk pursuing a man he thinks is armed into thick woods in the dark.
Payne is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with an intent to kill, inflicting serious injury. He is considered armed with a semi automatic handgun and dangerous.
Dave Forster, (757) 222-5563, dave.forster@pilotonline.com
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