Two North Carolina Murder Suspects Found Dead After Multi-County Pursuit in Southeast Ohio
ATHENS COUNTY, Ohio — Two suspects accused of killing two people and critically injuring two others inside a North Carolina home were found dead following a multi-county police pursuit in southeast Ohio Friday morning.
The suspects were identified by the Gaston County Police Department as 26-year-old Camryn Moore and 29-year-old Cory Armstrong. Both reportedly lived at the North Carolina residence where the shooting occurred.
According to Gaston County Police, officers responded at approximately 8:43 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, to a reported shooting inside a residence at 2661 Forbes Road.
Officers arrived to find four people suffering from gunshot wounds. Two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others were transported to CaroMont Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Police said Friday that both surviving victims remained in critical but stable condition.
The two people killed were identified as Victoria “Heather” Moore, 50, and Megan “Josiah” Moore, 38.
Suspects Charged With Murder
Gaston County Police detectives quickly identified Moore and Armstrong as suspects in the shooting. Investigators determined that the pair fled the residence and left Gaston County immediately afterward.
Detectives later obtained warrants charging each suspect with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder.
The Gaston County Police Department requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force. Federal marshals and county detectives worked throughout Thursday night and into Friday morning to track the suspects’ movements across multiple states.
Their search eventually led authorities to southeast Ohio.
License Plate Reader Detects Suspect Vehicle
At approximately 8:17 a.m. Friday, an automated license plate reader detected a black Mercedes-Benz traveling westbound on U.S. Route 50 in Athens County, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The vehicle was reportedly registered to a person wanted in connection with the North Carolina murder investigation.
OSHP troopers and officers with the Athens Police Department located the vehicle shortly afterward and activated their emergency lights in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop. The driver allegedly refused to stop, beginning a pursuit that continued for more than 20 minutes and crossed county lines.
Pursuit Ends in Jackson County
The pursuit continued onto state Route 32 in Jackson County, where troopers attempted to stop the Mercedes-Benz with a tire-deflation device.
According to the patrol, the vehicle swerved to avoid the device, struck a road sign and came to a stop near Hiram West Road.
Troopers then reported hearing two gunshots coming from inside the vehicle.
According to Gaston County Police, authorities used a drone to observe the stopped vehicle before approaching it. Moore and Armstrong were subsequently found dead inside with gunshot wounds.
No other injuries were reported during the pursuit, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol emphasized that no shots were fired by law enforcement.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol identified the suspects in its release as “Carmyn Moore” and “Corey Armstrong,” while Gaston County Police listed their names as “Camryn Moore” and “Cory Armstrong.”
Investigation Continues in Both States
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the pursuit, crash and circumstances surrounding the deaths of Moore and Armstrong.
The Gaston County Police Department said that although the search for the suspects has ended, its investigation into the Forbes Road shooting remains active.
“This was a tragic act of violence that resulted in the loss of multiple lives and left others critically injured,” the department said. “From the moment our officers arrived on scene, our focus was on identifying those responsible and locating them as quickly as possible.”
Gaston County Police credited the cooperation among local, state and federal agencies with helping investigators track the suspects across multiple jurisdictions.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted by the Athens Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson Police Department, Wellston Police Department and Ohio Department of Transportation.
Gaston County Police also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service, Ohio State Highway Patrol and the other agencies involved in locating the suspects.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims, their families and everyone affected by this tragic loss of life,” the department said.
Anyone with additional information about the North Carolina shooting is asked to contact Gaston County Police Detective G. Lancaster at 704-866-3320 or CrimeStoppers at 704-861-8000.
