North Carolina News

Two men charged with robbery and murder in sandwich shop case linked to double murder

Charlotte, NC
Terry Connor Jr. and Steven Staples face murder charges in the death of Scott Brooks, a sandwich shop owner. The defendants appeared in court this week where prosecutors revealed allegations tying them to another murder case.

Brooks, 61, was killed on December 19, 2019, as he arrived at Brooks Sandwich House. Two men wearing hooded sweatshirts approached him with guns and stole approximately $100 from his wallet.

Surveillance footage captured Brooks engaging with the suspects. As he pulled out his own weapon and fired back, the suspects returned fire, killing him outside his restaurant.

Prosecutors said Connor and Staples targeted Brooks’s business due to its cash-only policy. They are also being connected to the January 11, 2020, murders of Siojvon Joseph and Asa Shannon, both aged 35.

Joseph and Shannon were found dead from gunshot wounds in a vehicle in Charlotte. Evidence suggests Connor’s brother, Everette Connor, assisted in the killings.

Prosecutors aimed to show a pattern of violence involving the defendants during this week’s trial. Police officers discovered a ransacked home near the scene of Joseph’s and Shannon’s deaths, where they found hidden cellphones and weapons.

Both Connor and Staples have entered not guilty pleas in relation to Brooks’s death. Prosecutors are expected to rest their case next week, while the case involving Joseph and Shannon remains pending.

Brooks was remembered as a man who easily made friends through his business, which he co-owned with his brother since its establishment by their father in 1973.

Couple charged with murder of Vietnam vet in disturbing crime

Caldwell County, NC A man and woman are accused of murdering a 75-year-old Vietnam War veteran and hiding his body before returning to steal from him. Tara Jackson and Cecil Ray Traylor Jr., both 35, face murder charges in the death of David Mize, as confirmed by the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office this week.

On Tuesday, deputies conducted a welfare check at Mize’s home on Swinging Bridge Road and discovered signs of foul play. An investigation identified a second location in Catawba County, specifically Valley Hills Mall, as the site where Mize’s body was reportedly placed in the trunk of his car.

The vehicle was later located in a tow lot in Caldwell County, neighboring Catawba County. Following the alleged murder, Jackson and Traylor returned to Mize’s residence to steal items.

Both suspects were arrested, with authorities documenting the moment Jackson was taken into custody. When questioned by a reporter about her involvement with Mize, she denied knowing him and stated that she had a 7-week-old baby at home.

The investigation continues, with assistance from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office. Mize’s friend, Sherrill Baxter, expressed sorrow over his death, highlighting Mize’s character as a solid individual and a decorated veteran. Catawba County is situated approximately an hour north of Charlotte.

Attacker sentenced to prison for supermarket stabbing on ex-girlfriend

WEAVERVILLE, N.C. – Matthew Miner has been sentenced to 12 to 15 years in prison for stabbing his ex-girlfriend at a Publix supermarket. The attack took place while the woman was shopping, and Miner confronted her as she attempted to leave.

According to the Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office, the victim reported that Miner unexpectedly appeared and followed her to her car. Prosecutors indicated Miner used a folding-blade knife, causing multiple stab wounds.

Miner pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. Following their separation, he told investigators that he wanted to inflict pain equivalent to what she had caused him.

“The victim was found in the store with multiple stab wounds after being attacked,” the district attorney’s office stated. Weapon evidence included a knife retrieved from Miner’s truck and the victim’s phone, found at his home following his arrest.

Witness accounts detailed that the woman struggled to defend herself and was unable to escape until a store manager intervened after hearing her screams. After fleeing the scene, Miner was apprehended at his home.

Police warrants noted Miner’s intent to kill and inflict serious harm. He was also charged with kidnapping related to the incident in the parking lot.

Matthew Miner’s conviction highlights the ongoing issue of domestic violence and the lengths individuals may go in response to relationship conflicts.

A woman’s life was saved by quick actions during a shocking public attack.