Woman charged with murder in boyfriend’s shooting death

Woman charged with murder in boyfriend's shooting death

An Old Fort woman has been charged after her boyfriend was shot and killed Friday afternoon, according to the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office.

The shooting, which the sheriff’s office described as domestic violence-related, happened at a home along Lackey Town Road.

The sheriff’s office said a relative of Jessica Martin Blackburn, 49, called McDowell County Communications around 4 p.m. to report that someone had been shot.

GUN FIRED DURING DOMESTIC INCIDENT IN OLD FORT, SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS Eric Jerome Ward, 41, of Old Fort, was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later after suffering a gunshot wound, according to the sheriff’s office.

Blackburn was charged with felony murder in the case and is being held without bond in the county detention center. The sheriff’s office said the investigation into the shooting is ongoing.