By Mark Wineka
mark.wineka@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Salisbury Police are investigating a shooting early Sunday morning that led to the death of 22-year-old Sharod R. Mathis of Spencer.

At 1:22 a.m. Sunday, officers were called to the Firewater Restaurant and Bar at 122 Avalon Drive in reference to a shooting.

On arrival, they learned someone had been shot in the parking lot and been taken to Novant Health Rowan Regional Medical Center by private vehicle.

The victim, identified as Mathis, died of his wounds. Criminal investigators with Salisbury Police and the State Bureau of Investigation are working the case.

Firewater was open for business Sunday afternoon. It is normally open until 2 a.m. Sundays.

As law enforcement processed the scene Sunday morning, numerous markers were placed on the asphalt parking lot where evidence was collected or photographs were taken.

Later Sunday morning, at 4:19, Salisbury Police, Fire and EMS were called to 200 Harrel St. in reference to two people being shot. In that case, a 7-year-old girl is dead, and her 56-year-old grandmother was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg. (See the separate story.)

Anyone with information regarding these cases is being asked to call the Salisbury Police Department at 704-638-5333, or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.

Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263.