Couple found dead from gunshot wounds during welfare check in Fayetteville

The two adults were found at a home in the 1500 block of Berskhire Road around 830 a.m. The two people were found with apparent gunshot wounds, police said, and were pronounced dead at the scene.

While police have not identified the couple, neighbors identified them as John Melvin and his long-term partner.

Police said there is not threat to the public since the shooting did not appear to be a random act. It is believed that the two people found inside the home were the only people inside when the shooting happened, according to police.

Joey Lewis, who has known the couple for 15 years, said Thursday's incident took the neighborhood by surprise.

"I was at the store and my neighbor called and some, 'Something's going on over here at John's house.' Then, I thought, that's probably not good, so when I got home there was a lot of commotion," said Lewis.

Lewis said the couple had just recently moved into the Fayetteville neighborhood.

"They were good people, good neighbors. They never bothered us. He liked to talk a lot," said Lewis.

Lewis said the couple seemed fine, and he's not sure what went wrong.

"It's hard to say. I just knew it wasn't good with all the commotion," he said.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact Detective J. Olsen at 910-709-1958 or Crime Stoppers at 910-483-8477