WHITMIRE — A shooting that claimed the life of an elderly Whitmire man was the result of a domestic dispute, according to Union County Sheriff David Taylor.

Deputies were dispatched early in the afternoon of Oct. 2 to a residence at 123 Wilkerson Road in the Whitmire area of the county in reference to a domestic call. When they arrived, they discovered the lifeless body of James K. Smith, 75, in a house next to his residence.

The case has been under investigation since that time and on Tuesday Sheriff David Taylor said that his office has turned over the evidence it has gathered so far to the Sixteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Even with this, however, Taylor said that the investigation is continuing.

“We’ve sent what we have to the Solicitor’s Office,” Taylor said. “We’ve been in contact with them since then to see what also we need to get to make a determination on whether charges will be filed.”

Taylor said that investigators are continuing to gather evidence and that his office is still waiting on the results of the autopsy performed on Smith’s body. He said that Smith was shot in the left nostril with a .22 caliber pistol which he said deputies recovered at the scene of the shooting.

While he would not reveal any details, Taylor said the shooting was the result of a domestic dispute. He also said Tuesday that there is a suspect in the shooting, but would not reveal that person’s identity. Taylor did say, however, that the suspect has retained an attorney. He also said investigators are attempting to get a statement in writing from the suspect about the incident.

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By Charles Warner

cwarner@civitasmedia.com

Charles Warner can be reached at 864-762-4090.