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Cumberland County Man Shot To Death Outside Home

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CUMBERLAND COUNTY, N.C. — A man identified by officials as Walter Allen Jones, 54, was found shot to death outside the back door of his Cumberland County home early Thursday morning.

The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office believes Jones was shot during an attempted burglary of his home on Country Downs Drive around 1:39 a.m.

Deputies were investigating a 911 alarm call at the Gray's Creek neighborhood home when they found Jones lying in the doorway.

The Sheriff's Office said it appears the suspect or suspects attempted to enter the home at a location other than the back door where Jones' body was found. The investigation indicates that Jones was investigating the attempted entry and confronted the suspect or suspects when he was shot and killed.

Jones's body was been sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Chapel Hill for an autopsy.

Jones's wife suffers from muscular dystrophy and is unable to walk.She said she was in her bedroom when she heard shots fired and felt helpless to help her husband.It was the couple's security system that alerted 911, which sent deputies to the home.

Jones, who sold men's clothing at flea markets in South Carolina, served in the Army for 20 years and taught ROTC at a high school.

The Sheriff's Office said about $2,000 in cash was stolen from the home during in a break-in about two weeks ago.They are not ruling out that someone who knew Jones or whyo knew that he kept money in the home may be responsible.

Anyone with information should call the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office at 910-323-1500 or the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Crimestoppers at 910-483-8477.

A reward of up to $1,000 will be paid to anyone providing information that leads to an arrest in this investigation.

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