By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

MOUNT ULLA — A Salisbury man was shot and hospitalized Tuesday night, authorities said, after he was shot in the abdomen by a relative. Rowan officials believe an argument got out of hand at a Litaker Road home, Mount Ulla.

Deputies were dispatched to 354 Litaker Road where a man met them at the door to say his cousin, Gotti Pacino Litaker, 25, had been shot and was inside. The deputies asked where the shooter was and the man, Joel Leach, said the shooter ran out the back door.

The deputies noted in their report the home smelled of alcohol and marijuana, although the report does not indicate any marijuana was found.

Two women — Samantha Litaker and Laqueta Litaker, the sister of Gotti Litaker, both said they were not in the house when the shooting occurred. Gotti Litaker was on the floor when deputies entered the home. A report said he had a blood-stained shirt, a shell casing was found near him, he was conscious and alert, but his breathing was shallow.

The parties identified the shooter as Keith Daniel Litaker, who is related to Gotti Litaker. Samantha Litaker is the wife of Keith Litaker, said Capt. John Sifford.

Gotti Litaker told the deputies there was an argument and Keith Litaker shot him. Deputies were able to give first-aid to Gotti Litaker at the scene until Rowan EMS arrived. He was airlifted to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where he remains. Investigators said he had surgery for his injuries.

When asked what occurred, Samantha Litaker said she’d gone to bed around 8 p.m., but awoke to gunshots. She said it was not uncommon to hear gunshots in her neighborhood and Laqueta Litaker said she went outside to make a phone call when the shooting occurred. She said she ran inside to see her brother on the floor.

Rowan deputies are looking for Keith Daniel Litaker and have warrants for his arrest for assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill.

Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Keith Litaker is asked to contact the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office at 704-216-8700 or the Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.