Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — One man is OK and another is in jail following a shooting that occurred during a family gathering late Saturday night.

The shooting occurred at 205 S. Clay St., where Christopher Shepherd was attending a family gathering, according to a police department news release. Shepherd, 44, was allegedly shot twice by Salisbury resident Joshua Alexander Hovis, 29. Shepherd was transported to Novant Health Rowan Medical Center and transferred to Wake Forest Baptist Hospital. He has since been released.

Hovis was arrested on a number of gun- and drug-related charges following the shooting. The charges include assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting serious injury with intent to kill; possession of a firearm by a felon; felony possession of a scheduled two controlled substance; felony possession of a schedule two controlled substance with intent to sell or deliver; misdemeanor possession of a schedule four controlled substance; carrying a concealed gun; and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hovis remained in jail Sunday evening under a $200,000 bond.

A Salisbury Police Department news release said the incident occurred when Shepherd was standing outside of a residence on Clay Street. Hovis allegedly approached Shepherd from behind and shot him twice in the legs. Police spokeswoman Capt. Shelia Lingle said friends of Shepherd originally planned to take him to the hospital in a private vehicle. Lingle said the friends flagged police down.

Although the incident occurred Saturday night, Hovis was arrested early Sunday. Hovis allegedly left the scene of the shooting with another person in the vehicle. Police are still looking for the second person, Lingle said.

At 1 a.m. on Sunday, a police officer spotted Hovis pumping fuel into his vehicle at the intersection of Statesville Boulevard and West Innes Street, according to a news release.

Police arrested Hovis without incident and seized a long list of items, including: 8 grams of powder cocaine, 8 grams of crack cocaine, 7 grams of marijuana, $685, a 9mm handgun and drug paraphernalia.

Hovis’ possession of a weapon by a felon charge dates back to a conviction from 2009, when Hovis was convicted of possession of a schedule two controlled substance with intent to sell and deliver. As part of the the court ruling, he was sentenced to 10 months in prison.

Hovis has a lengthy criminal record that includes a number of drug-related charges, multiple trespassing charges, assault and larceny.

A Rowan County sheriff’s deputy told The Salisbury Post that Hovis was out of jail on bond on charges stemming from an Oct. 2015 incident at the time of Saturday’s shooting. The charges include numerous felonies, and Hovis’ record should have prevented him from being released from jail, the deputy said.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246