A rural eastern Cumberland County resident — scheduled to appear in court next month for a sentencing in an overdose death — is now dead.
Michael Paul Kerley, 36, last known address of Falls Road near Cumberland Cove, is identified as the victim of the fatal shooting over the weekend.
According to a prepared statement from the TBI, the fatal shooting took place at a residence in the 200 block of George Anna Drive, just off Hwy. 70 East in the Westel community.
Kerley was treated by EMS at the scene but died before he could be transported to a hospital.
A joint TBI and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office investigation led to the arrest of Devin Christopher Schillinger, 30, who lives at the residence where the shooting took place.
He was taken into custody and booked at the Cumberland County Justice Center around midnight Sunday on a single count of first-degree murder.
The arrest warrant affidavit — signed by TBI Special Agent Levi Pelley — states Kerley was walking across the driveway at the George Anna Drive residence when he was shot once in the head.
The affidavit continues, “The defendant and the victim had argued the night before but the defendant had not had any interaction on the day in question prior to the shooting.”
It adds Kerley was not “actively threatening or assaulting anyone,” and was not speaking to anyone at the time of the shooting.
Schillinger remains held in jail in lieu of $1 million bond. A tentative appearance in Cumberland County General Sessions Court is set for July 28. The issues of bond and whether Schillinger has an attorney may be addressed at that time.
Investigators have no reason to believe the fatal shooting is tied to Kerley’s plea June 2 to reckless homicide. Kerley was indicted on charges of second-degree murder and possession of meth with intent.
That case centered around the death of Kerley’s girlfriend, Ashley Nichole Cressel, 33, at her place of employment in August 2021.
An autopsy revealed Cressel died from acute methamphetamine toxicity, and investigators said Kerley was the person who provided the drug to the victim.
Kerley was free on bond pending a sentencing hearing scheduled Aug. 2, at which time a judge was to determine whether Kerley would serve eight years in prison, be given a split sentence of time to serve followed by probation or placed on supervised probation.
The TBI statement concluded, “The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct and not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of the law.”