Orange County Deputies Arrest Man on Second Degree Murder Charge

An altercation between two people ended with one fatally shot on Wednesday, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

A release from the office said its deputies responded to the 100 block of Ferguson Road — part of the unincorporated area west of Chapel Hill — in the early afternoon after receiving a 911 call. The caller said they had shot another man, and the victim did not survive. According to investigators, the pair of men knew each other.

Orange County authorities shared the identity of the victim on Thursday morning: 59-year-old Lee André Foster. Deputies reportedly found Foster with a single gunshot wound to the back of the head upon their arrival to the scene on Wednesday.

The sheriff’s office charged 54-year-old Darron Downey with second degree murder after investigators examined the scene. Wednesday’s release said Downey has a Chapel Hill address, but lives in unincorporated Orange County. He will make his first appearance in court on the murder charge on Thursday at 2 p.m. after being placed in custody of the Orange County Detention Center.

Darron Nelson Downey, 54. (Photo via the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.)

Investigators said they believe there is no ongoing threat to the community’s safety.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said anyone with additional information on Wednesday’s shooting is encouraged to get in touch with Investigator Nazworth by calling 919-245- 2960.

Editor’s Note: This article was updated on December 28 to reflect the victim’s identity and to add the mugshot provided of Downey.

Photo via the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

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