Sabian Warren

ASHEVILLE – City police are investigating a shooting early Sunday outside a public housing apartment that claimed a man's life and injured a woman.

Police still have made no arrest and are asking the community for help in the case, Asheville police Sgt. Dave Romick said.

Officers found Charles Keith Morgan Jr., 26, of Asheville, unresponsive from a gunshot wound when they arrived outside a Livingston Apartments building at 21 Palmer St. shortly after 3 a.m. Morgan was taken to Mission Hospital, where he later died, Romick said.

A 25-year-old woman was also shot and was being treated at Mission Hospital for injuries not thought to be life-threatening, he said.

The crime scene is off Depot Street, near the southern end of South French Broad Avenue.

Residents in nearby apartments said they didn't know what sparked the violence or who was responsible.

Resident Jared Pearce, who lives nearby, said he didn't know of the shooting until he awoke later Sunday morning and saw police cars on the street.

"You hear gunshots quite often," Pearce said. "The gunfire itself is not surprising. It's a tragedy when it comes to violence, especially gunfire. Growing up, if you had a problem with somebody you'd duke it out and everybody would go home. Now, they pull out a gun and shoot."

Morgan was no stranger to police. Dating to 2004, he had been convicted of common law robbery, breaking and entering, drug possession, larceny and carrying a concealed weapon, serving two years behind bars, according to N.C. Department of Public Safety records. He was scheduled to appear in Buncombe County District Court on June 11 on a number of new charges.

But those who knew him remembered a talented athlete who played basketball for Asheville Middle School and Reynolds High.

"I just hate it for him," said Asheville Middle School baseball coach Tommy Gassaway, who coached Morgan in youth basketball and baseball leagues. "He was a great kid. He was kind of lost, but he had the best smile in the world. When he did something good and you complimented him, he would have the biggest smile on his face."

Gassaway remembers one bitterly cold day, when Morgan was 10 or 11, the youngster arrived at basketball practice 30 minutes late, chilled to the bone. When Gassaway asked why he was late, Morgan said he had to walk.

"It made me realize he really wanted to be a part of that program," Gassaway said.

From that day on, Gassaway picked Morgan up and took him home each day from practice.

Asheville police are asking for anyone with information about the shooting to call police at 252-1110 or Crime Stoppers 255-5050.