The man accused of shooting a Laurinburg hospital patient on Monday has asked for a court appointed lawyer.

Wayne Lewis Simmons, also known as Wolf, had his first court appearance on Wednesday on allegations he shot a man being treated at Scotland Memorial Hospital and attempted to shoot the man's girlfriend.

Judge John Horne told the 49-year old Bennettsville man that he could spend the next 30 years in prison if he is convicted on the most serious charges.

Simmons is charged with attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill inflicting serious injury, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and discharging a firearm within city limits.

Simmons asked Horne to appoint a public defender to represent him in court.

Attempted first-degree murder is a Class B2 felony according to the North Carolina General Statutes and is punishable by up to 40 years in prison. Assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill inflicting serious injury is a Class C felony and is punishable by up to 17 years in prison. Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is a Class G felony and punishable by up to three years in prison.

Assault with a deadly weapon and discharging a firearm within city limits are both misdemeanors.

Simmons is in Scotland County jail under a $140,000 secured bond.

According to police, Simmons gained access to the hospital room of 31-year-old Domario Covington at 3 a.m. Monday where he then shot Covington two or three times and then attempted to shoot Covington's girlfriend, Jessica Gillespie.

Covington fled out the front of the hospital from Simmons while the alleged shooter ran out a side door of the hospital. Simmons was arrested in the parking lot.

Covington was being treated after he was cut during a fight at Ellison Club on U.S. 401 in McColl, S.C. The fight also involved Gillespie and the daughter of Simmons.

Detectives believe the fight earlier in the day may have been the cause for the shooting.

Covington is currently being treated for gunshot wounds in an undisclosed hospital, according to police. He was in fair condition.