Man Facing Murder Charge In Catawba County Extradited From South Carolina

The suspect in a fatal shooting in May in Catawba County has been extradited back to North Carolina. 27-year-old Jontavius Javez Littlejohn of Lincolnton was extradited from South Carolina and placed in the Catawba County Detention Facility.

He’s charged with a fatal shooting during an alleged attempted robbery at a Newton gas station May 11. 27-year-old Ronald David Rumley, Jr. of Valdese died May 21 at Atrium Health Charlotte, ten days after the incident at Love’s Travel Plaza on N.C. 10 near Southfork Drive.

As previously reported he incident happened when Rumley met with suspects at the truck stop. Authorities allege Littlejohn got into Rumley’s vehicle during a robbery attempt, and gunfire erupted as another suspect allegedly tried to pull a woman from the car.

Police said Rumley drove away after being shot multiple times before crashing into a utility pole nearby. An infant who was inside the vehicle was not injured. Littlejohn was later arrested in South Carolina following a short chase. The charges against him include murder, attempted murder, assault inflicting serious bodily injury, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Littlejohn is being held in the Catawba County Detention Facility under no bond, he had court dates scheduled Monday (August 3) and August 10.

Story: Rob Eastwood-WHKY