Argument leads to gunfire, frightened neighbors, conflicting stories | Crime

SALISBURY - Two men face charges after an argument led to gunfire on Litaker Road, according to the Rowan Sheriff's Office.

Deputies were called by a neighbor Tuesday around 7:30 pm to Litaker Road. The caller said that two men had been shooting at each other in a driveway.  Deputies noticed four men standing in the driveway, and ordered all four to put their hands up.

One of the men, Joel Leach, was identified as one of the two involved in the shooting incident.  Leach said he had gotten into an argument with another man, Darrell Tucker.  Leach said that he started to walk home, but that Tucker cursed and made threats against him.

At one point while this was going on, Leach said that Tucker pulled a chrome handgun and fired at him, then shouted "what's up now?" 

Deputies also determined that Leach had a gun, and they were able to retrieve a loaded .380 Ruger handgun.

Deputies then walked to the house where they were told they would find Tucker.  Tucker was found in the bedroom of the house, and a chrome .22 Jenkins handgun was also found.

Now dealing with conflicting stories of the incident, deputies had to determine exactly what did happen.

According to the report, the incident did begin as an argument between the two men.  Deputies believe that Leach was the first to get a gun, borrowing it from his uncle after telling the uncle he was afraid that Tucker was going to come after him. 

Deputies say Leach then went outside where he met Tucker, and that Tucker did fire at him.  At that point, Leach ran around the back of the uncle's house, breaking down the door in order to get inside.  Leach then went back out the front of the house and fired at Tucker, missing him.  Tucker fired back, missing Leach for the second time.  Tucker then got into his SUV and left.

Both men were charged with assault with a deadly weapon and placed in jail under $2500 bond.

There was no word on what started the argument that led to the incident.