[03/19/03]Charges against a Warren County man arrested Sunday on aggravated assault charges in the wounding of his girlfriend were upgraded to murder Tuesday after the woman died.

Alonzo D. Blackmore, 23, was arrested just after the shooting was reported at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Mary Shelly, 32, 75 Smith Road, had been shot in the neck, authorities said. She died Tuesday afternoon at University Medical Center in Jackson, said Warren County Detective Mike Traxler, who is investigating the case.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said the initial investigation by Traxler indicated Blackmore and Shelly were sitting in a car when they argued and she was shot.

Blackmore, who apparently drove Shelly to the hospital, was arrested at River Region Medical Center as medical personnel were treating Shelly before she was transferred to UMC.

Blackmore, who gave officers 203 Smith Place as his home address, was arraigned in Warren County Justice Court late Tuesday afternoon and charged with murder and being in possession of a firearm after being convicted of a felony.

Traxler said Blackmore was on probation from Adams County after pleading guilty in June 1998 to charges of accessory after the fact of burglary and grand larceny.

Blackmore remained in the Warren County Jail today.