A suspect in a fatal shooting along Ashley Forest Road in Chapel Hill now faces a murder charge in addition to previous felonies, due to the shooting victim’s death.

The Chapel Hill Police Department shared a release on Friday saying 27-year-old Kemonnie Drequan Eason has been given an updated charge of first-degree murder after the death of Elyjah Smith. Eason, who is a Charlotte resident, was arrested by police arrested on Friday, July 15.

Smith, a 25-year-old from Chapel Hill, was hospitalized “in critical condition” on Monday, July 11 after being shot. A GoFundMe page established by a co-worker at the Planet Fitness in University Place added a note Thursday evening saying that Smith died as a result of the injury.

Chapel Hill Police say the shooting happened around 9 p.m. on July 11, with officers arriving to a call at the 100 block of Ashley Forest Road, near the Tyler Creek neighborhood and a townhome community. Police say investigators determine Eason to be a suspect several days later.

In addition to first-degree murder, Eason faces charges of discharge of a firearm into an occupied dwelling, assault by pointing a gun, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and larceny of a motor vehicle.  Chapel Hill Police said he is now in Orange County’s detention center after initially being held at the Wake County Detention Center without bond.

The July 15 update from police said the department’s investigation is ongoing and no additional information is available at this time. Anyone with further information on the July 11 shooting is encouraged to get in touch with the department. To call Chapel Hill Police directly, community members can use 919-968-2760. Anyone who may wish to remain anonymous can call the Chapel Hill-Carrboro-UNC Crimestoppers hotline at 919-942-7515.

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