Charges in killing awaited

Officials say they have suspect in shooting death in Pilot Mountain

PILOT MOUNTAIN (Winston-Salem Journal) - Pilot Mountain and Surry County authorities are investigating the shooting death of a 37-year-old man at a house on Main Street on Tuesday night.

A suspect is in custody, authorities said yesterday, but they would not identify the person and said only that they are awaiting District Attorney Ricky Bowman's decision on whether charges will be filed.

Shortly after 9, police went to 607 W. Main St., where they found Ruben James Jones of 1285 Shoals Road in Pinnacle, dead of a single gunshot wound to the head.

Neighbors reported hearing a disturbance and the sound of a gunshot from the house. A search of public records indicated that Lisa Jones lived at the home. Law enforcement officials declined to disclose the relationship between Ruben Jones and Lisa Jones.

Neighbors said that she lived in the house with her 15-year-old son.

The shooting weighed heavily yesterday on the minds of people on Main Street.

"Nothing like this ever happens in Pilot Mountain," said Renee Kiser, a next-door neighbor who heard the gunshot.

Ruben Jones was on probation for assault on a female, an offense that occurred Aug. 2, 2007. He pleaded guilty to the assault charge and was sentenced to 18 months probation, court records show.