02/09/15 — Argument ends in shots

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Argument ends in shots

By John Joyce
Published in News on February 9, 2015 1:46 PM

Hours before shooting his stepfather in the back and then taking his own life Thursday, a Mount Olive man fired shots at a car carrying his own child, interim MOPD Chief Tommy Brown said.

Daniel Webster Croom, 24, of 307 Camp Trailee Road, shot and killed himself late Thursday or early Friday morning.

Croom's troubles began earlier in the day, Thursday, Brown said.

"He and his mother met his baby's mama at Walmart to exchange the baby. As she drove away, Croom fired several shots at the vehicle," Brown said.

After firing at the car carrying his own child, Croom and his mother returned home to Camp Trailee Road.

"Things transpired after that," Brown said.

Fast forward to just before midnight Friday.

According to a press release issued Friday by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, that is when deputies arrived on scene at 307 Camp Trailee Road to investigate a reported shooting.

"It was Thursday night, early Friday morning. The man and his stepfather were arguing, the guy pulled a gun and shot his stepfather in the back," Maj. Tom Effler said.

"The victim (and others) ran into a back bedroom to hide out, called 911. When (the first deputy) arrived on scene, he heard a single gunshot," he added.

Deputy Patrick Hux entered the residence and discovered Croom on the floor suffering from a single gunshot wound to the head, a press release said.

Carl Ernest Darby, 45, found in the master bedroom with a gunshot wound to the back, was transported to Wayne Memorial Hospital in stable condition.

Three other people were inside the residence when the shootings took place, including Croom's mother, whose name was not listed in the press release.

No other injuries were reported.