Woman sought in connection with shooting death at home where double homicide took place last year

CONOVER, N.C. — Police have arrested one person and are looking for another after a man was found shot to death inside a Catawba County home early Monday.

The shooting happened around 3 a.m. at a home along White Tail Circle in Conover.

When deputies got to the house, they found 28-year-old Samuel Antonio Hernandez Loza inside with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators said Loza had been staying at the home for a few weeks.

Authorities have not said what led up to the shooting, but they believe two suspects were involved and left the area before deputies arrived.

Officials said Tuesday that they found and arrested Tony Shook and charged him with murder. He is being held without bond and has a court date on November 10.

Police announced Monday they were looking for a woman for questioning, but said Tuesday that woman was no longer a person of interest.

Authorities are still looking for a second suspect in this homicide investigation. That person is described as a white woman, approximately 20-30 years old, with blonde hair. She was wearing a grey Calvin Klein hooded sweatshirt at the time this incident occurred.

Deputies investigated a double homicide where a mother and son were killed at the same home just over a year ago. In that case, officials said witnesses told them the suspect and the victims had been smoking meth before the shooting. Deputies were able to make an arrest in the 2019 case shortly after arriving in the neighborhood.

Authorities said they do not believe last year’s slayings were connected to Monday’s crime.

Channel 9 crews could see investigators going into the home all morning, collecting evidence. Outside, neighbors said they couldn’t believe the news of another deadly shooting at the house.

“I don’t know how people could have gone back into that home after those people were shot,” said neighbor Brittany Davis.

The large police presence at the house has shaken the community once again.

“I wouldn’t want to live in the neighborhood with anything like that going on," Davis said.

“I don’t understand it," said another neighbor, Christy Whiteside. "I was talking with somebody knowing them people last year that got killed and it is so sad. What is going on in this lifetime?”

No motive has been released in Monday’s shooting.

This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

‘Stop the violence’: 20-year-old bystander killed in shooting at Hickory apartments

Cox Media Group