GRANITE FALLS, N.C.,None — Dozens of searchers looked for weapons along Highway 321 on Wednesday after a gun that was stolen in a robbery and fatal shooting was found in the area.
Over the weekend, a tip led investigators to the gun, which had been left in a wooded area along Highway 321. Investigators traced it back to a robbery that happened more than a year ago at Granite Gun and Pawn, during which 65-year-old Tony Myers, who was working at the shop, was shot and killed.
They searched the area right after finding the gun and found more weapons.
"(We) located multiple other weapons that were stolen from the pawn shop," Granite Falls Police Chief Ritch Bolick said. "It is the first break we've had."
Four separate search crews and a police dog again searched the area for hours on Wednesday.
Tony Myers' sons, Jody and Andy Myers, said they think the weapons will aid the investigation.
"Whatever the motivation was, we're pleased that they were -- well, the word would be ‘stupid' -- enough to throw these guns out," Jody Myers said. "Because we feel very confident that we'll be able to get a lot of good evidence from these guns."
Police are similarly hopeful that the guns they found will lead them to Tony Myers' killer.
"I'm not sure if the person who killed him is still here locally, but someone here locally knows something," Bolick said.
One of the main reasons police think that person may still be around is the condition of the weapons: none have rust of other signs of being outside for a long period of time.
The only possible suspect in the case so far is a man who police called a "person of interest." The man has a speech impediment and was seen in the pawn shop prior to Myers' shooting.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 828-396-3358.
Previous Stories: December 28, 2010: Search For Pawn Shop Shooter Continues 1 Year Later December 31, 2009: Police Set Up Checkpoint, Hope For Clues In Pawn Shop Homicide December 30, 2009: Sketch Generates Possible Leads In Pawn Shop Murder December 29, 2009: Sketch Released In Pawn Shop Killing December 29, 2009: Police Continue Investigation In Pawn Shop Slaying December 28, 2009: Pawn Shop Worker Found Shot To Death Inside Family's Store
WSOC
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
