ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. -- A Lumberton man went before a judge Wednesday morning after Robeson County deputies say he shot and killed a 23 year-old last week.
- Twenty-year-old Javaras Hammonds is charged with killing Scurlock, who was found dead in a field
- Family members say 23-year-old Scurlock, who went by Avery and Chanel, met up with Hammonds after meeting him on dating app Plenty of Fish
- Deputies say Hammonds shot Scurlock and left the body in a field on Old Tower Road
Twenty-year-old Javaras Hammonds is charged with killing Avery Scurlock, also known as Chanel, who was found murdered in a field.
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Hammonds was given no bond.
Deputies arrested him Tuesday morning at his home.
He's charged with first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Family members say 23-year-old Scurlock met up with Hammonds after meeting him on dating app Plenty of Fish.
They add, before linking up, Hammonds removed his profile picture, which happened to be fake.
The two agreed to meet late Tuesday night.
Deputies say Hammonds shot Scurlock and they found their body in a field on Old Tower Road.
Scurlock's car was stolen thereafter.
Deputies have not said what lead to the murder, but have said they do not believe this is a hate crime.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, Scurlock is the ninth known case of deadly violence against the transgender community in 2019.
Editor's Note: Out of respect for the deceased, and due to inconsistent reports on Scurlock's preferred gender identity from individuals close to them, we have chosen to use a non-binary pronoun in this story. However, after careful consideration of information recieved from all parties, we believe their identity falls under the blanket category of "trans."