Ex-husband Killed During ‘Disturbance’

Bullets on the ground

A man was shot to death after allegedly trying to force his way into his ex-wife’s home home near Chadbourn Thursday.

Robert Ransom Smith III, 67, was killed at the home of Jeanette Duncan on Joe Brown Highway South near Rough and Ready Road. Smith was a suspect in a break-in at the home on May 24 (Tuesday) according to the sheriff’s office.

Duncan and her son, Robert Ransom IV, live at the address, the sheriff’s office said in a press release. Someone kicked in the back door of the home and stole three firearms and a quantity of jewelry on Tuesday. Detectives later identified the senior Smith as the suspect.

On Thursday, deputies were following up on leads in the case when they were dispatched back to the residence to investigate a shooting. They were in the area and arrived on scene in around one minute, according to the release, and found Smith dead at the scene. 

“The evidence at the scene revealed that Robert Smith III was at the residence causing a disturbance,” the release said. “He was irate and trying to force entry into the residence.”

The sheriff’s office did not say who shot Smith or with what kind of weapon. 
The investigation is continuing.

About Jefferson Weaver 1927 Articles
Jefferson Weaver is the Managing Editor of Columbus County News and he can be reached at (910) 914-6056, (910) 632-4965, or by email at [email protected].