Investigation continues into death of Stoneville man

The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a Stoneville man who appears to have suffered a gunshot wound.

Police received a call at 2:02 p.m. Wednesday at 340 Young Road in Stoneville, just off N.C. Highway 135 near the Shiloh Airport. Deputy Chris Barnes and Shiloh Fireman Curtis Bolick arrived on the scene and found a while male lying in the back yard of the residence, unresponsive, according to Sheriff Sam Page.

The victim has been identified as Mark R. Williams, 40, of 151 Carmel Drive in Stoneville. Williams’ body was removed from the backyard of the residence and taken for an autopsy, according to Dean Venable, public information officer for the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office.

Two subjects were at the house at the time Williams’ body was found, said Page. He said Wednesday afternoon that investigators were interrogating the two subjects.

In the course of the investigation, Herbert Bethea, 36, of 340 Young Road, was found in possession of a firearm. Bethea is in jail under a $150,000 bond for felon in possession of a firearm.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (336) 634-3232 or Crime Stoppers at (336) 349-9683.