By BOB HIGH
Staff Writer

Gary Fennell Robinson, 45, of Jackson Street, Chadbourn, surrendered to authorities at noon Sunday after another Chadbourn man died Saturday from a gunshot wound.

Robert Allen Bellamy II, 35, of Vault Square, died shortly after 1 p.m. Saturday in New Hanover Regional Medical Center from a wound to his upper left leg that severed his femoral artery, according to Chadbourn Police Chief Steven Shaw.

Bellamy was shot on Jackson Street at 11:26 p.m. Friday during an argument between the suspect and the victim, and was hit in the area “where three arteries come together, including the femoral artery,” Shaw stated.

Shaw said Bellamy lost a large amount of blood and CPR was administered to “bring him back” by Chadbourn Rescue members as they transported him to Columbus Regional Healthcare in Whiteville.

Bellamy was airlifted early Saturday to Wilmington, and was given 11 pints of blood in an effort to stabilize him, Shaw said.

$10 argument

The Chadbourn chief said his officers had not determined the exact problem between Bellamy and Robinson, but believe it had something to do with Bellamy owing the suspect $10.

“We have an idea of what the trouble was about, and it was possibly over just $10. Both Bellamy and Robinson had been drinking heavily Friday,” Shaw pointed out.

“Bellamy was talking ‘junk’ to Robinson, and one shot was fired to scare Bellamy, but that didn’t stop him from talking, so a second shot was fired. I understand Robinson said he didn’t want to kill him, just wound him,” the chief declared.

Bellamy told a friend and a family member that the suspect was the person who shot him, and a third person is an eyewitness, the chief reported.

Shaw said the weapon used had not been found, and there is no report of Bellamy displaying a weapon, or being armed when he was shot.

SBI unit called

The State Bureau of Investigation’s crime-scene unit responded, and Agent Josh Hilburn is assisting Chadbourn officers. Police Officer Donald Britt is in charge of the case for Chadbourn police.

Britt will be the department’s detective while Detective Lt. Deon Hayes is away several months on National Guard duty, Shaw reported.

Shaw said this is the first homicide in the Town of Chadbourn since he returned to the police department in December 2005, a period of 16 months. Shaw left the Chadbourn force to become a magistrate in 2004.

The last homicide inside Chadbourn’s limits was on August 12, 2005, when Octavius D. Bellamy, 30, died as a result of two shots to his chest five days earlier. (See Obituary page)