CHESAPEAKE - A Proctorville man charged with voluntary manslaughter will return to Lawrence County Municipal Court today for a preliminary hearing.

David E. Jones, of 1121 Athalia-Wolf Creek Road, was arrested last week and charged with voluntary manslaughter in connection with the death of Roger Smith, 50, also of Proctorville.

Lawrence County sheriff's deputies said Jones called the sheriff's office and said he had shot someone. Sheriff Tim Sexton declined to say what might have precipitated the shooting.

Smith's death was the sixth death by violence in Lawrence County in the last two months.

In August, three people died in an arson fire at the Lyle Motel in Ironton. Roger K. Marshall, of Ironton, has been charged with three counts of murder and 12 counts of arson in connection with that incident and faces the death penalty if convicted.

On Sept. 3, John Turvey of Ellisonville Ridge Road was found dead at his residence. Carlos Jenkins, of Ironton, was charged with murder in connection with that death.

A week later, Tommy Keaton, of Ironton, was arrested for an assault that led to the death of his stepfather, Robert Gore, also of Ironton.