Local man dead another wounded in Halifax shooting

ROANOKE RAPIDS — Gunshots broke the nighttime stillness at P and J Trailer Court Thursday.

When the shooting ended, one man was dead and another was on his way to the hospital.

Around 9:53 p.m. at the Court off Highway 48 in Roanoke Rapids, Halifax County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at P and J Drive to discover Christopher Ponton, 30, had been shot and killed, according to Chief Deputy Wes Tripp. The shooting had occurred outside Ponton’s home.

Trip added further investigation revealed a second man, who received a gunshot wound at the same location, made his way to Halifax Regional Medical Center.

Clyde Williams, 29, of Roanoke Rapids, was taken to Pitt Memorial Hospital from HRMC with a gunshot wound to the leg. 

Tripp declined to speculate on what had happened and who might be responsible for the shootings. He said the case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office at 252-583-8051 or Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.

The Sheriff’s Office will keep all information received confidential.