A Lincolnton man has been charged in a shooting that injured one person at the Love’s Travel Stop in Newton on Monday.
Jontavius Javes Littlejohn, 27, is charged with felony attempted first-degree murder, felony assault inflicting serious bodily injury, felony possession of a firearm by a felon and misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon with a minor present, the Newton Police Department said in a news release on Tuesday.
The man who was shot in the Love’s Travel Stop parking lot was identified as Ronald David Rumley Jr, 27, of Marion. Newton Police say Rumley is in critical condition at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte as of Tuesday.
Rumley was shot multiple times
A female victim was identified as Shayla Connelly, of Marion. Connelly and her baby were both evaluated at Catawba Valley Medical Center following the shooting. Connelly and the baby were both released from the hospital.
The shooting happened shortly before 1:15 p.m. on Monday. The initial call reported a possible kidnapping and shooting at the Love’s Travel Stop. The truck stop is located at 1760 Southfork Drive off N.C. Highway 10 in Newton, Newton police said in a previous release.
Newton Police said Rumley and Littlejohn knew each other and arranged to meet at the Love’s Travel Stop on Monday. When Rumley came to the gas station, an armed gunman got into the backseat and pointed a gun at Rumley. A second gunman tried to pull Connelly out of the car. Rumley began to drive away, according to the previous release. A burgundy sedan was seen crashed near the entrance of the Love’s Travel Stop parking lot.
Newton Police said a suspect’s vehicle was found by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office. Littlejohn was arrested after a short chase.
Littlejohn is being held on charges in South Carolina. Littlejohn will be extradited back to North Carolina.
The second reported gunman has not been identified and remains at large.