Willie Breeden, a 33-year-old man from Gastonia, North Carolina, died of a gunshot wound to the chest at his home on September 13, 2020. Emergency responders took him to CaroMont Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities determined the shooting to be domestic-related.

Breeden’s live-in girlfriend, 31-year-old Valencia McLean, was arrested shortly after the shooting and charged with first-degree murder. Investigators reported that McLean had allegedly hidden the gun before the fatal incident, a detail that contradicted her earlier statements. Prosecutors indicated they intended to use recorded jail phone calls in their case. McLean previously faced an assault with a deadly weapon charge after an April 2019 incident in which she said Breeden accidentally shot her with an AR-15 while they were cleaning it; that charge was dismissed in February 2020.

The case attracted attention because of the domestic violence allegations and the couple’s prior history. If anyone knew Willie Breeden or has information about what happened on September 13, 2020, please come forward with tips.