ROCKINGHAM — A man is being held without bond in the Richmond County Jail after allegedly killing his brother during an argument.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a call of someone being shot on Mizpah Road, south of Rockingham, just after 1 a.m. Wednesday.
The first deputy on scene reportedly found 61-year-old Sylvester Steele in the yard with a gunshot wound.
EMS reportedly attempted life-saving measures, but the victim died at the scene.
Investigators reportedly discovered that the victim had gotten into an argument with his brother, 58-year-old Johnny Steele, of the same address, over money before he was shot.
Johnny Steele was arrested and charged with an open count of murder. Jail records show the defendant was booked at 4:37 a.m. His first court date is scheduled for Oct. 5.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show the defendant has several prior convictions in the state.
His first conviction was in 1990 in Columbus County on misdemeanor charges of larceny, cheating property or services, possession of a hypodermic (needle), and operating a vehicle without a license.
In 1994, Steele was convicted in Richmond County on a single charge of selling a Schedule II controlled substance. His initial probation was revoked several months later and he spent the next four years in prison.
Steele was later convicted in March 2000 of possession with intent to sell a Schedule II controlled substance, then in May of assault on a female and misdemeanor larceny, and served a total of nearly seven months.
In February of 2004, Steele was convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was initially given probation, which was revoked later that year when he was then convicted of being a habitual felon and maintaining any place for a controlled substance. He was incarcerated for three months shy of six years.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
