Oxford, N.C. — Oxford police and the State Bureau of Investigation are searching for a man accused of killing his uncle, whose body was found in a shallow grave last week.

Arrest warrants for first-degree murder were issued Friday against Michael Sharron Wright, 26, of 206 W. College St., in the death of his uncle, Kirk Douglas Wright Sr., 54, of 611 Granville St. Police have not discussed a motive for the slaying.

Police Chief John M. Wolford said that Kirk Wright was reported missing around 9 a.m. last Wednesday.

Officers canvassed the neighborhood and talked to a man who said he had found a makeshift grave in a wooded area behind an abandoned house at the end of 4th Street, police said. Once the body was removed from the shallow grave, a identification of Kirk Wright was made.

A preliminary autopsy from the State Medical Examiner's Office in Chapel Hill showed Kirk Wright died from asphyxiation.

Over the last few days, police said they have searched for Michael Wright in the Triangle and Triad areas, based on leads in the investigation. 

Michael Wright is described as a black man, 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 227 pounds.

He is considered armed and dangerous, police cautioned. Members of the public should not approach him.

"The suspect, Michael Wright, is a convicted felon who recently got out of prison. He has an extensive criminal history and should be considered armed and potentially violent," Wolford said in a news release. "We are confident that this was not a random act of violence in an otherwise relatively peaceful neighborhood."

Michael Wright was released from prison in November 2009 after serving four months for drug possession and probation violations, according to state Department of Correction records.

He has previous convictions in Granville, Wright, Person and Alamance counties dating from 2000. His convictions include assault on a public official, driving while impaired and larceny.

Anyone with information on Michael Wright's whereabouts should call Oxford Police Sgt. Lynn Curl at 919-603-1208, Det. Pat Ford at 919-603-1209 or Crime Stoppers at 919-693-3100.