A Laurinburg man arrested in a 2010 slaying pleaded guilty this week to second-degree murder.
Brandon Nicholas Huneycutt, 26, was arrested on June 17, 2010 for the shooting death of Harold Leon Cook, 30.
That morning, Cook was found dead in the overgrowth along Armstrong Road in Laurel Hill. He had been shot twice, once in the head, according to sheriff’s reports at the time.
Following a search of Huneycutt’s Aberdeen Road home, he was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. On the day of his arrest, Huneycutt told authorities that he had acted in self defense, according to Assistant District Attorney Michael Parker.
“He admitted to shooting Cook,” Parker said. “He claimed self-defense, but there was no evidence of self-defense.”
Further investigation revealed that the shooting followed a dispute over a woman. The shotgun Huneycutt used in the murder was borrowed from a friend, who was found to have no knowledge of Huneycutt’s intentions and who released the weapon to authorities when approached.
“He had borrowed the shotgun the night before and he had returned it the morning before the body was found,” said Parker.
On Monday, Huneycutt pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after negotiations with the District Attorney’s office, Parker said.
He was sentenced to a minimum 196-month prison term , with a maximum term of 245 months.
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