First Posted: 11/13/2014

ROCKINGHAM — Although police have released few details in a fatal shooting Tuesday, court records identify the men involved and shed light on the dispute that led to the killing.

According to a search warrant, Eric Whitfield and Mack Dewey Smith III — who police were told both live at the Pecan Street home — got into an argument “about a dog smelling bad that lives inside the home.”

Police were told that Smith grabbed a knife and went outside on the back deck and Whitfield came out with a .22-caliber rifle.

While they were on the deck, the warrant states Whitfield shot Smith in the upper left chest.

Whitfield was performing CPR on Smith when officers received a call of gunshots fired at the home, according to the warrant.

Police — including Chief Billy Kelly and Capt. Eddie Grant — arrived around 12:30 p.m., cordoning off the yard with crime scene tape, interviewing witnesses, taking photographs and collecting evidence.

Detective Steven Odom applied for the search warrant that District Court Judge Amanda Wilson issued at 4:05 p.m. Tuesday. The warrant was returned the following day at 10:49 a.m.

Items seized in the search included DNA swabs, a kitchen knife and a broken wine glass from the kitchen floor. The rifle is not listed on the inventory, but is mentioned in the probable cause affidavit filed with the application for the search warrant.

At the time Odom applied for the warrant, Smith was being taken by ambulance to FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital and Whitfield was taken to the Rockingham Police Department.

Smith later died from his wounds.

Whitfield was released later that afternoon pending further investigation.

Police met with District Attorney Reece Saunders’ office on Wednesday in an effort to determine whether Whitfield will face criminal charges.

As of late Thursday afternoon, the case was still under investigation with no charges filed.

Unless sealed by a judge, search warrants are public record in North Carolina after law enforcement agencies have executed and returned them.

Reach reporter William R. Toler at 910-817-2675.