Police Find Body Behind Business

Stallings police officers said they found a body behind a business along U.S. 74 Sunday.

Officers said the man appeared to have been shot to death. They found the victim's body at about 11:30 a.m. behind an auto body shop on Independence Boulevard in Stallings.

Most of the workers at the body shop only speak Russian, which caused miscommunication that led officers to initially believe they were called in to investigate a break-in, police said.

Officers said they believe they know who the victim is, but are waiting for a positive identification from the medical examiner’s office.

Business owner Skip Brown said he isn’t used to hearing about homicides happening just blocks away from his shop.

“I'd imagine it would make some people nervous,” he said. “It certainly hits close to home.”

The slaying marks the first homicide the town has seen since Christmas 2007.

“We moved down here with the kids,” resident Wilfredo Peraza said. “I heard there are good schools. Maybe this will be the first and last time. We don’t want to hear about this anymore.”

The Stallings police chief didn’t release any information about possible motive or suspects.

Anyone with information about the case should call Union County Crime Stoppers at 704-283-5600.