Morning Headlines: Thursday, March 17, 2016

Darryl Hunt Died Of Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound

There's more information ona a man who spent 19 years behind bars for a murder he didn't commit. A police report says he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Winston-Salem police said in a news release Wednesday that Darryl Hunt died of a single gunshot wound to his torso. They say a handgun was found inside the locked vehicle and that investigators found no evidence of a struggle.

The car with Hunt's body inside it was discovered Sunday near the Wake Forest University campus.

Friends have said that Hunt had been diagnosed with cancer.

Guilford House Member Dies

A North Carolina state House member who suffered a stroke last month has died on the same day that he lost his primary election.

Representative Ralph Johnson of Greensboro died Tuesday evening at Moses Cone Hospital.

 The 62-year-old Johnson died from complications related to the stroke, according to his campaign chairperson Katina Amadi.

Five Sheriff's Deputies Disciplined For Actions At Trump Rally

A North Carolina sheriff has suspended five deputies for their actions at a Donald Trump rally in which a black man being escorted from the event was allegedly assaulted by a white man in attendance.

A statement from Cumberland County Sheriff Earl "Moose" Butler on Wednesday said three deputies were demoted and suspended without pay for five days. Two other deputies were suspended for three days without pay, and all five were put on probation for 12 months.

Spaulding Says New PAC Will Focus On Black Voter Issues

Roy Cooper's unsuccessful rival in the Democratic primary for North Carolina governor wants to create a political action committee focusing on statewide and General Assembly candidates who promote issues important to black voters.

Ken Spaulding of Durham announced Wednesday the PAC will endorse candidates from "a statewide perspective" and attempt to coordinate with African American newspapers and local nonpartisan black organizations. He says in a release the PAC also will attempt to work with Bernie Sanders supporters and communicate with other minority groups.

Former Charlotte Mayor Cannon Sentenced In Voter Fraud Case

Former Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge stemming from the vote he cast almost two years ago after he was sentenced to prison in a bribery scandal.

Cannon pleaded guilty on Wednesday to attempted voter fraud. The plea came after an agreement worked out between Mecklenburg County District Attorney Andrew Murray and Cannon's defense team.

Superior Court Judge Robert Ervin sentenced Cannon to one day, to run concurrently with his existing sentence. He is serving a 44-month sentence after he pleaded guilty in 2014 to taking more than $50,000 in bribes from FBI undercover agents.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.