Justin Cody Starnes, 29, was shot and killed on March 12, 2024 during a domestic dispute at a residence on Forest Green Drive in Mineral Springs, near Waxhaw, North Carolina. Union County deputies found Starnes near the back of the home with a gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene. A woman inside the house, described as the wife of the assailant, suffered a severe head injury and was taken to a local hospital and expected to survive.

Investigators identified 62-year-old Jeffery Lemmonds as the suspect; he fled but was later taken into custody at a relative’s home in Monroe and charged with first-degree murder in Starnes’s death and attempted first-degree murder for the assault on his wife. Sheriff Eddie Cathey said the suspect fired multiple shots in a reckless effort to kill family members and urged anyone with information to contact the Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers. Family and friends remembered Starnes as a son, nephew, cousin, and friend who brought love, respect, compassion, and a contagious sense of humor to those who knew him.

Does anyone have information about Justin’s last day or about the events at the Forest Green Drive residence?