Two women were killed and two others critically injured in a shooting incident at a home in Gastonia, North Carolina, on Thursday. The deceased victims have been identified as Victoria 'Heather' Moore, 50, and Megan 'Josiah' Moore, 38.
Authorities named Camryn Moore, 26, the daughter of Victoria Moore, and Cory Armstrong, 29, as the main suspects in the shooting. Both Camryn Moore and Armstrong resided at the Gastonia home. Following the incident, they fled the scene, leaving two other individuals hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
The Gaston County Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, initiated a search for the suspects, who were to be charged with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. On Friday, the Ohio State Highway Patrol located the suspects' vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, which led to a pursuit.
According to law enforcement, the suspects crashed their vehicle after attempting to evade spike strips deployed by officers. During the aftermath of the crash, authorities reported hearing two gunshots from within the vehicle. A drone was used to observe the car, and both Camryn Moore and Cory Armstrong were found deceased inside.
Officials expressed gratitude for the inter-agency cooperation that led to the swift location of the suspects across multiple jurisdictions. "This was a tragic act of violence that resulted in the loss of multiple lives and left others critically injured," a statement from Gaston County Police read. "From the moment our officers arrived on scene, our focus was on identifying those responsible and locating them as quickly as possible."
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting is ongoing. Police remain committed to serving the community and uncovering the full details of the incident.