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Former Raeford police chief's fiancée shot to death

The fiancée of a former Raeford police chief was found shot to death late Wednesday, and investigators are trying to determine if her death was a homicide or suicide.

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RAEFORD, N.C. — The fiancée of a former Raeford police chief was found shot to death late Wednesday, and investigators were trying to determine if her death was a homicide or suicide.

Kevin Locklear told investigators that he was in a different room in the house, at 209 Covington Ave. in Raeford, when his 30-year-old fiancée, Amanda Graham Barker, shot herself, police said.

Current Raeford Police Chief Eddie Jaggers asked the State Bureau of Investigation to assist with the case.

"Any time you have a case where you have unknown circumstances – you don't know all the details of what was happening right before or during – it makes it a little harder to solve because the person that could tell you everything can't tell you anything," Jaggers said.

Locklear was fired as Raeford's police chief in December 2007, two days after domestic-related assault charges were dismissed against him. The reason for his firing was not released.

He was charged in November 2007 with assault on a female, injury to personal property and domestic criminal trespass after an alleged assault on his then-wife. Erlina Locklear told investigators that he pushed her, causing her head to hit cement twice. He also grabbed her by the shirt and threw her onto the porch, she said.

Charges were dropped after Kevin Locklear agreed to complete court-ordered treatment.

Jaggers said the 2007 case has nothing to do with Wednesday's shooting.

Locklear is currently a captain with the Red Springs Police Department in Robeson County. Police Chief Ronnie Patterson said that Locklear's status with the department hasn't changed and that he has been given some time off to take care of his family.

Patterson said Locklear has been with Red Springs police for about a year and a half and has had no problems.

Barker was a dispatch supervisor for Cumberland County EMS who had an 11-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter. Relatives called her beautiful, smart and a great mother.

Neighbors said she and Locklear had lived in the home for about two years and that they never heard any arguments.

A friend took the children to the movies Wednesday night, so they weren't home when Barker died, a neighbor said. It was unclear who was caring for the children Thursday.

Locklear's cousin, Tonya Locklear, said he loved his fiancée and that the couple was doing fine.

"Going to church and playing the piano and him loving God the way he does, I just knew he didn't take her life," Tonya Locklear said. "A lot of people in the community should get all the facts straight before they start judging someone, because that’s just not right."

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