A man who was shot early Tuesday morning was found to be in possession of drugs while on probation for failing to register as a sex offender, Sanford police reported.

Officers responded around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday to Simmons and York streets after receiving reports of a shooting. By that time, the victim – 41-year-old Eric Lavon Gray – had already left for Central Carolina Hospital.

At CCH, officers interviewed Gray and learned that he was wearing an ankle monitor for probation and is on post release for failing to register as a sex offender. A press release indicates that officers located “two small plastic baggies of a suspected controlled substance” on Gray, who was eventually taken to UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill for treatment. As of Tuesday afternoon he was listed in stable condition.

The press release doesn’t specify which controlled substance Gray is alleged to have been in possession of, and also doesn’t say what, if any, charges he faces.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Sanford Police Department at (919) 777-1051.

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