In the early morning hours of August 2, 2026, a dispute outside a North Carolina bar escalated into a fatal shooting, claiming the life of 36-year-old Jarvis Elliott of Erwin and another man. The violence erupted around 1:30 a.m. in the parking lot of The 601 Bar in Dunn, formerly known as The Corner Bar. Investigators believe a verbal argument that began as the bar was closing turned into a physical confrontation, which was then followed by a barrage of gunfire. When Dunn Police Department officers arrived at the scene, they discovered a chaotic situation with a large, agitated crowd. More than 30 spent shell casings were later recovered from the parking lot, a testament to the intensity of the violence that had unfolded.
Jarvis Elliott and Travis Williams of Dunn were both found suffering from fatal gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene. Two other individuals were also wounded in the shooting. A woman from Coats was shot in the back, and a man from Dunn sustained a graze wound; both managed to get to a hospital in private vehicles. The Dunn Police Department, with assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, launched a double homicide investigation. Detectives began the process of reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses to piece together the events of that tragic morning.
In the days following the shooting, the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission suspended the alcohol permits for The 601 Bar, citing a history of violations even before the deadly incident. The investigation progressed, and on August 11, 2026, the Dunn Police Department announced the arrest of a suspect. Keason Kindale Stocks, 32, of Coats, was taken into custody in connection with the murders of Jarvis Elliott and Travis Williams. While an arrest has been made, the investigation into the double homicide continues, and further details regarding the specific charges and a potential motive have not yet been released. The case is now set to move through the judicial system.
