FROM STAFF REPORTS

A 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a shooting that occurred Monday in the 300 block of Tradd Street in Statesville.

The Statesville Police Department announced the arrest of William Howard Morrison II in a news release Wednesday.

Morrison is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and discharging a firearm in the city limits in connection with the shooting of Brandis Teon Imes, 43, who was shot in the leg on Friday afternoon.

The suspect was arrested and placed in the Iredell County Jail under a $350,000 bond, according to the news release.

Following the execution of a search warrant at 354 North Tradd Street, the SPD Violent Crimes Unit obtained an arrest warrant for Morrison, police said.

After investigators received information that Morrison was located at a residence in the 300 block of Buffalo Shoals Road, the SPD deployed a drone to monitor the location, according to the news release.

As officers approached the residence, Morrison fled and was tracked using the drone, police said. Officers found Morrison hiding behind a garage at the end of Mardon Lane and took him into custody, according to the news release.

Cpl. Mitchell and K-9 Axl conducted a search of the area and discovered a loaded .45-caliber handgun in a field, police said. The serial number on the firearm matched a gun box located in the residence of 354 North Tradd Street, Morrison’s residence, according to the news release.