44-year-old Jerry Matthew Cox of Lincolnton was arrested Thursday (March 23) by Lincoln County Sheriff’s Officers. He’s charged with felony attempted first-degree murder.

According to police, the incident occurred at approximately 8:45 p.m. at an address on Sunny Hill Drive in Lincolnton. When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered a 46-year-old female victim lying in the front yard with a gunshot wound to the stomach. The victim, was immediately transported to Caromont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia.

Several family members, including the victim’s children, were in the residence when the incident occurred. Witnesses said the victim’s husband, Jerry Matthew Cox, from whom she was recently separated, shot her in the stomach as she prepared dinner. The shooting appeared to be unprovoked.

Witnesses also stated that Cox chased the victim out of the house and into the yard where he attempted to shoot her again however the handgun jammed. Cox then ran from the scene but was later found by deputies and taken into custody without incident.

Cox was placed in the Harven A. Crouse Detention Center under a $750,000 secured bond. A District Court date was scheduled today (March 24).