NASHVILLE, N.C. — A Nash County man is being held without bond on first-degree murder charges.

Police say R. B. Hedgepeth, 55, of Nashville, N.C., allegedly shot 41-year-old Michael Jerome Boone of Nashville on Sunday.

Boone was taken with a gunshot wound to the abdomen to Nash County General Hospital, where he later died in surgery.

According to police reports, the victim attempted to start a fight outside 9636 Cooper Road with Hedgepeth.

When Hedgepeth walked inside the residence, police reports say the victim followed him, grabbed him around the throat, and started choking him at which time Hedgepeth was able to grab his 20-gauge shotgun.

When law enforcement officials arrived to the scene, they found the victim lying on the floor in the bedroom. The suspect was standing on the front porch of the residence and was taken into custody.

Hedgepeth's first court appearance is April 12.