GASTONIA MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER



GASTONIA -- A Gastonia man is arrested and charged with murder, after police say Michael Levonne Grier shot Kevin Lamont Washington.

The incident happened around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday after an argument ensued between the two men. Police said they were friends.

Grier, 44, of 542 Belfast Street, fatally shot Washington, 27, several times. Washington suffered multiple wounds to the face and chest. Authorities said Washington was dead at the scene before they arrived.

Police arrested Grier around 5:30 a.m. as he was walking near the scene. Authorities are uncertain of a motive but know the shooting occurred in the residence. Police found Washington in the street.

The two men were acquaintances and spent time together.

Police found a trail of blood from Grier's home to where they found Washington and said there was a smell of bleach in Grier's residence, indicating he may have tried to clean up the crime scene before police arrived.

Police used a SWAT team to go to Grier's residence, but he was already gone. Police don't know where Grier was in the six hours between the shooting and where he was found.