SCOTLAND COUNTY, N.C. — Authorities are investigating the death of a 41-year-old man who was found shot inside a vehicle near the South Carolina state line Saturday morning. The Scotland County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the case is being treated as a death investigation as detectives work to determine what led to the fatal shooting.
According to officials, John Keven Hopkins, 41, of Laurinburg, was discovered inside a car around 10 a.m. The vehicle was found parked on the backside of a private property in the Gibson area, close to the North Carolina–South Carolina state line. Deputies were notified after a local landowner noticed the unfamiliar vehicle and contacted authorities.
The landowner told investigators the car was located near the end of his property, off Railroad Street, in a secluded area not commonly traveled. When deputies arrived and checked the vehicle, they found Hopkins inside suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Emergency responders were called, but Hopkins was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.
Investigators have not released details about when the shooting may have occurred or how long the vehicle had been parked on the property before it was discovered. Authorities also have not said whether Hopkins was shot inside the vehicle or elsewhere before ending up at the location. No suspects have been identified, and no arrests have been announced at this time.
The Scotland County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation with assistance from the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Officials said the involvement of multiple agencies is due to the vehicle’s proximity to the state line and the need for additional investigative resources.
Authorities emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing and that detectives are actively following up on leads, interviewing potential witnesses, and processing evidence. Anyone with information that could help investigators is urged to contact Detective Omeni at 910-266-4332 or the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office. Officials say even small details could be critical in determining what happened and bringing answers to Hopkins’ family.
