Cleveland homicide suspect extradited to Rowan County

Published 5:06 pm Saturday, August 10, 2024

By Chandler Inions

Buchanan

CLEVELAND — The man suspected for his alleged involvement in a Cleveland homicide that was apprehended in South Carolina earlier this week was extradited to Rowan County to await trial.

According to a statement from Police Chief Jon Jessop, officers from the Cleveland Police Department successfully extradited Stephen Eric Buchanan, 39, of Mooresville, to Rowan County on Friday.

Buchanan was brought before a magistrate upon his arrival. In North Carolina, Buchanan was served with seven new criminal charges and four charges related to probation violations.

The new charges include: murder; possession of a firearm by a felon; felon larceny; obtaining property by false pretense and probation violation.

According to Jessop’s statement, for the charges related to murder and possession of a firearm by a felon, Buchanan was denied bond.

For the remaining charges, including felony larceny, obtaining property by false pretense and the probation violations, a bond of $80,000 was set.

Buchanan has been remanded into the custody of the Rowan County Detention Center where he will await trial.

Background

Authorities in Cleveland confirmed on Wednesday that a homicide investigation was currently underway. The suspect, Buchanan, was apprehended in York County, South Carolina, that afternoon and booked into the local detention facility at 6:46 p.m.

In a statement from Jessop, he confirmed that the Cleveland Police Department, in collaboration with the the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation had determined that the homicide occurred at a Johnstone Road residence.

A statement from earlier in the week indicated that the incident occurred on Monday.

“We want to assure the community that the situation is under control and there is no ongoing threat to public safety,” officials said at that time. “Our officers responded promptly and took necessary actions to secure the area. We are actively investigating the incident to determine the facts and ensure that appropriate measures are taken.”
On Monday, Jessop said, “Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our community members. We understand that incidents like this can cause concern, and we want to reassure everyone that we are taking this matter seriously. Our officers are working diligently to gather all relevant information.”
The investigation, which remains ongoing, led to the development of probable cause and the issuance of arrest warrants for Buchanan.

As new information becomes available, this story will be updated.

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