Authorities are searching for the party's host, 27-year-old Rufus Owens Jr., of Cumming Road, Richmond County Sheriff's Office Investigator Paul Godden said.

Anthony Campbell Jr., a 26-year-old mechanic, was shot at about 3 a.m. Sunday in his Harford Street home and died a half-hour later at Medical College of Georgia Hospital, police said.

The shooting apparently stemmed from a slumber party at Mr. Owens' house. One of the guests was the daughter of Mr. Campbell's girlfriend.

Rufus Owens Jr. is wanted on charges of murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of a gun by a convicted felon. SPECIAL

Police say Mr. Owens went to Mr. Campbell's home and confronted him about leaving the ill daughter at his house. He was angry because he could not reach Mr. Campbell or his girlfriend, Twana Brown, Investigator Godden said.

After name-calling, Mr. Owens left. He returned minutes later with a .380-caliber handgun, police said. Ms. Brown told police she answered a knock at the door, heard a gunshot come through the door and then saw Mr. Owens walk in and fire directly at Mr. Campbell.

Mr. Campbell was shot in the left arm and chest, Investigator Godden said.

Police say the gun was owned by Mr. Owens' wife, Francis Michelle Chambers, who gave him the gun after he left the house the first time but didn't know about the shooting, Investigator Godden said.

She drove them back home a block away. Mr. Owens ran out the back door as police arrived, police says. Investigator Godden said police have no plans to charge Ms. Chambers.

Warrants have been obtained charging Mr. Owens with murder, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of a gun by a convicted felon.

Reach Greg Rickabaugh at (706) 828-3851 or greg.rickabaugh@augustachronicle.com.