Two people were killed and two children were critically injured in a shooting Thursday in Gastonia, North Carolina. The alleged perpetrators, identified as Camryn Moore, 26, and Cory Armstrong, 29, died of apparent gunshot wounds Friday following a high-speed police chase that ended in southern Ohio.
Authorities responded to reports of gunfire at a residence on Forbes Road around 8:43 a.m. Thursday. Six people, including Moore and Armstrong, lived in the home. Responding officers discovered multiple victims, with dispatch audio indicating that the niece and boyfriend were believed to be involved in the shooting.
Victoria “Heather” Moore, 50, the mother of Camryn Moore, and Josiah Bumgardner, 38, identified as Camryn Moore’s uncle, were found deceased at the scene. Two children, identified as Autumn and Keaton (Heather Moore’s son), sustained life-threatening injuries and were transported to CaroMont Regional Medical Center. They were reported to be in critical but stable condition.
Neighbors expressed shock and disbelief at the violence. Loretta Forbes, a neighbor, described the family as “very nice people” and said the incident was unsettling. Brianna Crouse, another resident, called the event “absolutely nuts” and noted the rarity of such violence on their street. Robert Cline described the community as “tight-knit” and unaccustomed to crime.
Following the shooting, Moore and Armstrong fled the scene. North Carolina authorities alerted law enforcement in Ohio, and a pursuit ensued. The Ohio Highway Patrol has not confirmed the cause of death for Moore and Armstrong, though North Carolina authorities are investigating their deaths as a possible double-suicide.
The motive for the alleged killings remains unclear.