21-year-old William Howard Morrison II of Statesville was arrested Monday (July 3) by Statesville Police Officers. He’s charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and discharging a firearm in the city limits.

On Monday, at 4:07 P.M., the Statesville Police Department received a 911 call regarding a person who had been shot and was lying in the roadway suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers responded to the scene at an address on North Tradd Street in Statesville and found a 43-year-old Statesville resident lying in the driveway with a gunshot wound to the leg. The SPD Violent Crimes Unit responded to the scene and initiated an investigation into the incident.

Following the execution of a search warrant at another address on North Tradd Street, the Violent Crimes Unit obtained an arrest warrant for William Howard Morrison II in connection with the shooting.

Later that night, investigators received information that Morrison was at a residence in the 300 block of Buffalo Shoals Road. Prior to officers’ arrival to the residence, Statesville Police utilized a drone to monitor the location. As officers approached the residence, Morrison fled and was tracked using the drone. Officers apprehended Morrison hiding behind a garage at the dead end of Mardon Lane.

Corporal Mitchell and K-9 Axl conducted an article search of the area that Morrison had fled from the residence. During the search, K-9 Axl discovered a loaded .45 caliber handgun in a field. The serial number of the firearm matched a gun box located in the residence that was searched on North Tradd Street, Morrison’s home. Forensic testing was scheduled to be conducted on the firearm.

Morrison was placed in the Iredell County Jail under a secured bond of $350,000. He remained in jail as of earlier today (July 5). A District Court appearance was scheduled today.