Heart attack leads to murder charges

CHADBOURN, N.C. – A 58-year-old man died of a heart attack while fleeing a weekend shooting, and police have charged the two gunmen with his death.

Police found Thomas McQueen Jr. dead after gunfire erupted early Saturday. Three people were wounded.

An autopsy showed McQueen died of a heart attack, said Police Chief Tim Stoker.

“It’s not as common to have a homicide occur in this manner, but we would investigate any death like this as a homicide,” he said.

The two 22-year-old men charged with murder were involved in an argument with others in the crowd outside the restaurant and got weapons from a car, the police chief said. The victim was not involved in the dispute.