Murder follows drug deal, bogus cash: HCPD

Christopher Evan Smith

Aaron Lee Campbell

    Anger over a drug deal involving counterfeit cash prompted gunfire that claimed the life of a man with Fair Bluff ties during the weekend, Sgt. Robert Kegler of the Horry County Police Department said.
    Courtland Gore, 25, who shows an address in Fair Bluff and has family ties in Fayetteville and Raleigh, died after being shot while driving on SC 22 near U.S. 701 north of Conway at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Assistant Horry County Assistant Coroner Darris Fowler said.
    Christopher Evan Smith, 30, was taken into custody near his Little River home about 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Kegler said in a news release Monday. Held without bond at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center near Conway, Smith was formally charged with murder Monday morning, Kegler said.
    Detectives believe the shooting was related to a drug transaction involving Gore and Smith, with Smith receiving counterfeit cash, Kegler said. Smith followed Gore’s vehicle on SC 22, and fired “multiple shots”, Kegler said.
     For more on this story, see the Nov. 27 Tabor-Loris Tribune print edition, to be published a day early this week, on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
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