Woman killed man she met on dating website, deputies say

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) – A woman who met a man through a dating website was charged Monday in his 2015 shooting death at her home, Cumberland County officials said.

Clarence Smith, 61, was found dead in a front yard of a home along Sangi Lane in Fayetteville on June 10, 2015.

Cumberland County deputies were sent to the location after a 911 caller said that Sheri Jones shot Smith, officials said in a news release Monday.

“Jones said she is the one who shot him — it was self-defense,” the news release from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said.

Jones, 57, and Smith met months earlier on the Farmer’s Only dating website and began dating, officials said.

However, the two “were not getting along and were separating,” deputies said.

Jones told deputies that she called Smith to come to her home and pick up his belongings, the news release said.

Smith was shot when he went to Jones’ home, officials said.

Jones surrendered Monday to deputies at the Cumberland County Detention Center.

Officials said she will be served with warrants for her arrest for first-degree murder. 

Jones is being held without bond. Her first appearance in court is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday in courtroom 3A, officials said.