By BOB HIGH

Gilbert Douglas “Junior” McMillan, 26, of Hamer Street in Fair Bluff, was arrested late Friday afternoon on a charge of murder in the .22-rifle slaying of Jason Arthur, 27, of Scott Circle in Fair Bluff. (See photo Page 5-A of our printed edition)

Police Chief Marty Lewis said Arthur – the second homicide victim in Fair Bluff this year -- died Thursday morning in New Hanover Regional Medical Center of wounds to his head and abdomen, plus a shot in the hip.

Lewis detailed the following story:

McMillan and Arthur, who knew each other, met Tuesday afternoon when McMillan gave the victim a ride to a Fair Bluff store five hours before the shooting. “There were no harsh words between them.”

McMillan drove to Hamer Street to get his girlfriend and two daughters shortly before 9:25 p.m. The house is located beside an open lot called “The Corner,” a place with people “hang out” all the time.

Arthur, riding as a passenger in another vehicle, was behind McMillan for a short time as McMillan drove to Hamer Street. Arthur had his driver friend flash the headlights in an attempt to get McMillan to stop, but McMillan proceeded to his destination.

Has big stick

McMillan got out of his pickup truck and put his baby’s toy wagon in the rear, and Arthur appeared with a thick three-foot stick in his right hand and an open can of beer in his other hand.

“I’m going to bust your head open,” Arthur told McMillan.

McMillan grabbed a .22-caliber rifle from his pickup, and Arthur stated, “If you’re going to get your gun, I’m going to get mine.”

Arthur walked away, throwing the stick and beer to the ground.

Arthur continued walking for 100 feet, then turned and started to walk back. “Come on, fight me like a man,” Arthur told McMillan.

Chief Lewis said he has no idea why Arthur wanted to fight McMillan.

Arthur approached and got close to McMillan, and the shooter fired his rifle at least four times. Arthur, who was not armed, was struck in the head, abdomen and hip. The shooting was witnessed by four people, Lewis added.

Lewis said SBI Agent Mac Warner and Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. David Nobles assisted him in the investigation.

June shooting

Fair Bluff’s first homicide of 2006 took place on June 11, two blocks from last week’s shooting.
Allen Jerome Tyler, 22, of Fair Bluff, was killed in a shootout with Mark Bouvier McKay, 42, of Dessie Road, Chadbourn. Records show Tyler began shooting at McKay outside a home at the corner of Hamer Street and Park Drive.

McKay grabbed a pistol from his car and killed Tyler. McKay was not charged as the homicide was ruled self-defense.

There have been two other homicides this year, both in the rural areas of Columbus County.

Byron Leneau Hooks, 19, of Cherry Grove Road, Cerro Gordo, was arrested in mid-February for the shotgun slaying on Jan. 14 of Mickey Ray Hayes, 59, of Peanut Worley Road, Cerro Gordo.
And, Levern Kelly, 55, of Bermuda Bay Lane, Tabor City, was charged with the rifle slaying of James Ervin Dixon, 41, of Yam Lane, Tabor City, on June 1.