Rural Hall Man Charged With Murder After Fatal Shooting on Woodbriar Path

RURAL HALL, N.C. — A 20-year-old Rural Hall man has been arrested and charged with felony murder after a shooting early Friday left another man dead, authorities said.

Deputies with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office responded shortly after midnight Feb. 27 to the 200 block of Woodbriar Path in reference to a reported shooting.

When deputies arrived, they located Richard Aaron Davis Jr., 43, of Rural Hall, suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. Davis was transported to a local hospital for treatment and later died from his injuries.

Investigators determined an argument between Davis and the suspect, Demetrius Lamont Hart Jr., escalated into a physical altercation. During the confrontation, Hart allegedly produced a firearm and shot Davis.

Hart, 20, was arrested and charged with one count of felony murder under North Carolina law. He is being held without bond at the Forsyth County Detention Center.

His next court appearance is scheduled for March 2, 2026, in Courtroom 205 at the Forsyth County Courthouse.

Major Van C. Loveland-Stanley said in a statement that gun violence has lasting consequences and urged the community to work together to guide young people away from violent behavior.

The investigation remains ongoing.