Hickory Police are delving into the circumstances of a homicide that transpired early Sunday, as revealed in an official communication. The deadly occurrence rattled the area of Main Ave SW and US Hwy 321, causing unease among the local denizens.
In response to a call at approximately 2:42 a.m., law enforcement rushed to the scene. Upon their arrival, they discovered a man inured by gunfire. The victim, identified as Austin Lee Matthew Miller, a 25-year-old resident of Lexington, NC, could not survive his injuries and was declared deceased where his body lay.
Officers at the scene rapidly deduced that the shooting had roots in a domestic dispute carried on wheels, with the involved individuals making their way into Hickory via US Hwy 321 from Caldwell County. One individual, named James Michael Church aged 32 from Granite Falls, was present as the police arrived and was recognized as the individual responsible for firing the shots.
Despite the swift identification, no charges had been pressed against Church as of yesterday, according to the official report by Hickory Police. The investigation, still in progress promises, a meticulous unraveling of the incident's details.
Hickory officials have extended a request to the public for information that could shed light on this case. Potential informants can reach out to Inv. Ben Rogers at 828-261-2614 or through email at [email protected], serving as conduits to justice for Miller.
