On September 7, 2024, at approximately 1:21 a.m., deputies from the Robeson County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of a shooting in the 1000 block of Mt. Zion Church Road in Red Springs, North Carolina. Upon arrival, they discovered two individuals suffering from gunshot wounds: James Lowery, 19, of Rowland, and Charles Oxendine, 21, of Pembroke.
Both victims were promptly transported to medical facilities; Lowery was taken to UNC Southeastern Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries, while Oxendine received treatment at an undisclosed location.
At the scene, authorities arrested 20-year-old James Isaac Hardin of Red Springs. He was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious bodily injury, and discharging a firearm within an enclosure to incite fear. Hardin is currently held at the Robeson County Detention Center without bond. The investigation remains active, with the possibility of additional charges or arrests.
James Lowery, affectionately known as J.B., was born on November 17, 2004. He is survived by his mother, Heather Chavis; his grandmother, Tammy Locklear; two sisters, Tamra and Tiffany Lowery; his daughter, Ivory Reign Jones, and her mother, Logan Jones; as well as close friends and extended family members. He was preceded in death by his father, Joshua Lowery, and his aunt, Cynthia Lowery. Funeral services were held on September 17, 2024, at Revels Funeral Home in Pembroke, followed by interment at Lowery Cemetery on Oak Grove Road.
The Robeson County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Community members with information are encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office at 910-671-3170 or 910-671-3100. Authorities emphasize that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
