Johnny Mark Lowery, a 53-year-old man from Murphy, North Carolina, tragically died on September 7, 2018. He was shot in the parking lot of Nate's Country Store in Murphy, and despite being rushed to Erlanger Murphy Medical Center, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident occurred around 9 p.m., causing a nearby high school football game to be canceled and the stadium evacuated.
The suspect in Johnny Mark Lowery's death is Shane Donovan McKinney, a 28-year-old man from Marble,
North Carolina. McKinney was identified and apprehended shortly after the shooting, following a brief standoff at his residence. He was charged with murder and discharging a firearm within city limits. The case has been under investigation, and McKinney was held without bond.
In a twist to the case, Superior Court Judge William Coward dismissed the felony murder charge against McKinney in March 2021 after doctors determined he would never regain the mental capacity to proceed with a trial. However, McKinney was later released from civil commitment and faced additional charges in 2024, including felony assault with a deadly weapon and felony hit and run.
The circumstances surrounding Johnny Mark Lowery's death have been complex and drawn out, involving multiple legal and mental health considerations. The community continues to seek justice and closure for the Lowery family.
