Neighbor arrested after man found dead in burning car in Covington
Man dead after shooting and fire on Westview Drive
Covington police arrested 63-year-old Owen Holmes after he allegedly shot his neighbor and set a vehicle on fire Monday night.
COVINGTON, Ga. - A Covington man was shot and killed by his neighbor before his car was set on fire Monday night on Westview Drive, according to the Covington Police Department.
Officers arrested 63-year-old Owen "Chip" Holmes following a standoff at the scene of the deadly violence.
Deadly neighborhood shooting investigation
What we know:
Covington police officers responded to reports of gunshots on Westview Drive at approximately 8:45 p.m. Monday. Upon arrival, they discovered a vehicle burning in the street with a man dead inside, investigators said. Neighbors reported seeing police arrive with rifles as the suspect was initially at large.
Police identified the suspect as Owen "Chip" Holmes, 63, who lived across the street from the victim. Investigators believe Holmes shot the victim and then set the car on fire. Following a short standoff, Holmes was taken into police custody around 11:30 p.m. Monday. He faces several charges, including murder and first-degree arson.
Search for a motive
What we don't know:
While a suspect is in custody, police said the reasoning behind the killing is not yet clear. "What's not 100% clear at this time is the reasoning behind it," Det. Daniel Seals said. Additionally, authorities have not yet released the identity of the man found dead in the car.
Owen "Chip" Holmes (Covington Police Department)
History between neighbors
The backstory:
Neighbors told FOX 5 the victim and Holmes had issues in the past, though detectives are still working to determine if that history played a role in the shooting. Some residents expressed shock at the violence, describing Holmes as a neighbor who had always been friendly and "real nice."
Police request for information
What you can do:
The Covington Police Department is continuing to piece together the events that led to the killing. Officers ask anyone with information regarding the shooting or the fire to give them a call.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Covington Police Department at 770-786-7605.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the Covington Police Department, which provided details on the investigation, the person of interest, and the sequence of events and jail records.