Family posts on social media that loved one accused of killing woman at school is dead — but cops say he is very much alive

The family of a man accused of shooting a woman to death outside a vacant North Carolina school posted on social media that he died in a traffic crash, but cops say he is still alive.

Lewis Richardson Jr., 44, is the subject of a warrant for first-degree homicide in connection with the death of 61-year-old Debbie Allen, according to cops in the town of Nashville, which is about 45 miles northeast of Raleigh.

Police conducting patrols around the abandoned W.L. Greene School found Allen dead around 4 p.m. on Feb. 19.

Detectives spent several months investigating and submitted numerous pieces of evidence to the crime lab before they obtained a warrant for Richardson's arrest on Sept. 25.

But Nashville Police Chief Caleb Shockley told local NBC affiliate WRAL that the family was telling people on social media that Richardson recently died when he was hit by a car while riding a bicycle.

While it is true that Richardson was hit by a car, he survived the incident, cops say. Shockley called the hospital to confirm Richardson's status. Richardson remains in critical condition.

"When family puts out information such as that, it would lead one to believe that you know the subject had, actually, you know, passed away," Shockley told the TV station. "In this case, the warrant is still very much alive."

Police have yet to say how Allen was killed, but they say she and Richardson were in a relationship.

Allen was well known in the community.

"We all knew her by name, and the family is also from Nashville," Shockley said. "Everybody at the police department knows her. She was a sweetheart, and you know, you hate to see that happen with anybody."

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Richardson will be arrested once he is released from the hospital. Shockley said cops are eager to prosecute him.

"Hopefully he recovers," the police chief said.

According to WRAL, Richardson has a lengthy criminal history, including a prior conviction in connection with the killing of his father.