Lumberton, North Carolina

From the Lumberton Robesonian of June 18, 2006

Murder charge dismissed

The state has dismissed a murder charge against a Pembroke man.

The District Attorney's Office said there is insufficient evidence to prosecute Twyman McKinney in the shooting death of 31-year-old Jay Mario Lowry of Pembroke. Lowry lived at 406 Gough St.

McKinney, 54, shot Lowry once in the chest with a small-caliber handgun at McKinney's 201 E. Second St. home. The shooting occurred in March, but McKinney was not cleared of the second-degree murder charge until May 23.

Assistant District Attorney Martha Duvall said McKinney was justified in his use of deadly force, according to court records. McKinney's defense lawyer, Gayla Biggs, declined to elaborate.

“The dismissal speaks for itself,” said Biggs, an assistant public defender.

Another article indicated that Lowry was believed to be breaking in to the house.