A fatal shooting is under investigation by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, according to Sheriff Steve Pelton.

A 911 call was made at 1:16 a.m. Thursday, July 9. The caller reported an individual had been shot at a residence in the 1000 block of Birch Drive in Lonedell.  They noted the suspected shooter had fled the scene.  The caller stated the victim–later identified as Gage Cowin, 28, of Lonedell–appeared to be dead.

As deputies responded, they located a gray 2012 Ford Focus overturned a short distance from the residence to which they were responding. Inside the vehicle they recovered a revolver-style handgun. An adult male, Levi E. Taylor, was seen walking back toward the vehicle. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation.

Other deputies responded to the residence and located Cowin suffering injuries consistent with a gunshot wound. They initiated lifesaving measures until emergency medical personnel arrived, but Cowin was pronounced dead at the scene.

The reporting party told deputies an argument had occurred between the two roommates and that was when Taylor shot Cowin. Franklin County detectives met with the Prosecutor’s Office charging Taylor, 29, with no bond warrants for second-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon and DWI.