Person County deputies found the body of Leverne Zimmerman, 29, lying in front of his girlfriend's house in the Hurdle Mills community shortly before 6 a.m. Zimmerman had been shot once in the chest, and investigators said they believe the slaying had occurred between 2 and 3 a.m.
After the slaying, a driver lost control of his truck on southbound N.C. Highway 49 and slammed into a new house, authorities said. The house was for sale and was unoccupied, authorities said.
The driver fled the scene on foot, and deputies found a gun inside that they connected to the slaying.
Deputies arrested Tim Strickland, 37, at his house in Hurdle Mills later Wednesday morning and charged him with murder.
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