Police: 1 dead in shooting at gas station in Monroe

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Eyewitness News obtained the surveillance video from the gas station in Monroe where a man was killed Friday.

It showed the suspect running with a gun in his hand before the shooting and his attempt to escape with a 4-month-old baby in his car.

Police said 22-year-old Christopher Thomas got out of his car and yelled at the victim before he grabbed a gun and shot him. It happened in front of the Sunoco gas station on Franklin Street.

Police said they do not know the motive behind the murder.

Friday night Eyewitness News was there when Thomas was taken into custody. He wouldn't answer questions but police said he tried to escape from the shooting scene by speeding down Highway 74, and weaving in and out of traffic until he crashed, causing a four-car accident.

That's when police said they discovered he had a baby in his car.

The child was taken by the Department of Social Services and is doing OK, but the shooting victim died at the hospital.

The victim's aunt came back to the gas station after getting the news to get answers.

"It was shocking," Margaret Dillingham said. "In broad open daylight and he just had a little baby not too long ago."

She was surprised to hear the suspect also had a young child with him at the time of the shooting.

"You weren't even thinking about your own child when you did this," Dillingham said.

She described her nephew as a nice, respectful man.

She told Eyewitness News his name, but we're not releasing it until police have notified all of his family members.

WSOC