GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A deadly shooting in North Carolina followed by a police pursuit in southern Ohio has ended with the deaths of Camryn Moore, 26, and Cory Armstrong, 29, two suspects who had been wanted in connection with the Gaston County violence.
The pair were found dead inside a crashed vehicle Friday, September 11, after Ohio authorities pursued the vehicle through multiple counties. Investigators reported hearing two gunshots after the crash, but authorities have not determined publicly who fired the shots. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances surrounding the pursuit, crash and deaths.
The deaths bring another tragic turn to a case that began Thursday morning at a residence on Forbes Road in Gaston County, where four people were found suffering from gunshot wounds.
Two victims died at the scene, while two others were taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. The surviving victims remained in critical but stable condition in the latest reports.
Gaston County Shooting Leaves Two Dead and Two Critically Injured
The original investigation began at approximately 8:43 a.m. Thursday, September 10, when Gaston County officers responded to a reported shooting at a residence at 2661 Forbes Road.
Officers arriving at the home discovered four people suffering from gunshot wounds.
Two victims were pronounced dead at the residence. The other two were transported to CaroMont Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries and were reported to be in critical but stable condition.
The two deceased victims were identified in subsequent reports as Victoria “Heather” Moore, 50, and Megan “Josiah” Moore, 38. WSOC-TV reported that authorities later corrected earlier identification information concerning one of the victims.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed a motive for the shooting.
Camryn Moore and Cory Armstrong Identified as Suspects
Gaston County investigators quickly identified Camryn Moore, 26, and Cory Armstrong, 29, as suspects in the shooting.
Police said both individuals lived at the Forbes Road residence and fled Gaston County shortly after the shooting.
Investigators obtained warrants charging each suspect with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder.
The U.S. Marshals Service Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force joined Gaston County investigators in the effort to locate the pair.
Their movements were tracked across multiple states as authorities attempted to find them before they could evade capture.
Search Leads Authorities to Ohio
The multi-state search continued overnight into Friday morning.
At approximately 8 a.m. Friday, the Ohio State Highway Patrol located the vehicle believed to be associated with Moore and Armstrong outside Athens, Ohio.
A trooper attempted to stop the vehicle, but the occupants did not stop.
The incident quickly developed into a pursuit that crossed multiple counties in southern Ohio.
The pursuit lasted more than 20 minutes, according to the information provided by authorities.
Troopers eventually deployed tire-deflation devices in an effort to stop the vehicle.
Ohio Police Pursuit Ends in Crash
Authorities said the fleeing vehicle swerved in an attempt to avoid the tire-deflation devices and subsequently crashed.
The vehicle struck a road sign and came to a stop near Hiram West Road in Jackson County, according to the account provided in the original information.
Following the crash, officers reported hearing two gunshots coming from inside the vehicle.
Rather than immediately approaching the vehicle, authorities used a drone to inspect the scene.
The drone operation allowed law enforcement to assess the vehicle before officers moved closer.
Moore and Armstrong were subsequently found dead inside the crashed vehicle with gunshot wounds.
Who Fired the Shots?
One of the most significant unanswered questions concerns the source of the gunfire heard after the crash.
Authorities have not publicly determined who fired the shots.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol has stated that law enforcement officers did not fire shots during the incident, according to reports citing authorities.
No other injuries were reported during the pursuit.
Because the investigation remains active, it would be premature to characterize the deaths as a confirmed murder-suicide or to state that either suspect shot the other.
Investigators must establish what happened inside the vehicle and determine the sequence of events that led to the deaths.
Investigation Into Moore and Armstrong’s Deaths
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances surrounding the pursuit, crash and deaths of Moore and Armstrong.
Investigators are expected to examine the vehicle, physical evidence, the location of the crash and information gathered during the pursuit.
The circumstances surrounding the gunshots will also be an important part of the investigation.
At this stage, officials have not publicly released a definitive explanation for the deaths beyond confirming that both suspects were found deceased with gunshot wounds after the crash.
Additional information could become available as investigators complete their examination.
Gaston County Investigation Remains Open
Although the search for Moore and Armstrong has ended, the original Gaston County shooting investigation remains active.
Gaston County Police have said investigators will continue working to establish the circumstances surrounding the Forbes Road shooting.
The investigation includes determining what led to the violence and documenting the events that resulted in two deaths and two additional people suffering critical injuries.
The deaths of the two suspects also mean that the criminal case will now intersect with a separate investigation into what happened during the Ohio pursuit.
Authorities in both states are continuing to examine their respective portions of the case.
A Tragedy Spanning Two States
The sequence of events has affected communities in both North Carolina and Ohio.
What began as a shooting investigation at a Gaston County residence quickly became a multi-state manhunt involving local police, federal authorities and state law enforcement agencies.
The search ultimately ended hundreds of miles away in southern Ohio with another two deaths.
For the families of the four people shot in North Carolina, the investigation into the original violence remains a deeply painful chapter.
For authorities in Ohio, the focus is now on understanding the pursuit, crash and deaths of the two wanted suspects.
What We Know About the Case
The currently reported information includes:
- Camryn Moore: 26
- Cory Armstrong: 29
- Original location: 2661 Forbes Road, Gaston County, North Carolina
- Original shooting: Four people shot
- North Carolina fatalities: Two
- Other North Carolina victims: Two hospitalized in critical but stable condition
- Charges against Moore and Armstrong: Two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder each
- Search assistance: U.S. Marshals Service Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force
- Ohio location: Near Athens, Ohio
- Pursuit: Multi-county pursuit through southern Ohio
- Crash: Suspect vehicle crashed after attempting to avoid tire-deflation devices
- After the crash: Officers reported hearing two gunshots
- Moore and Armstrong: Found deceased inside the vehicle
- Law-enforcement gunfire: Authorities said officers did not fire shots
- Current investigations: Gaston County shooting and Ohio pursuit/deaths remain under investigation
Questions Remain After the Ohio Crash
Several important questions remain unanswered.
Investigators have not publicly explained exactly what happened inside the vehicle after the crash or who fired the shots heard by officers.
Authorities also have not publicly released a motive for the original Gaston County shooting.
Those unanswered questions are likely to remain central to the investigations in the coming days.
Until officials release additional findings, claims about the precise circumstances of the deaths should be treated as unconfirmed.
Families and Communities Left to Grieve
The case has already resulted in multiple deaths and serious injuries, leaving families and communities dealing with the aftermath.
The original Gaston County shooting claimed two lives and left two others critically injured.
The deaths of Moore and Armstrong during the subsequent Ohio pursuit added another tragic development to an already devastating case.
For investigators, the work now continues in both states as authorities attempt to reconstruct the full sequence of events.
For the families affected, the investigations are unfolding alongside the difficult process of dealing with loss and serious injuries.
Final Update on Camryn Moore and Cory Armstrong
The deaths of Camryn Moore, 26, and Cory Armstrong, 29, mark the latest development in a case that began with a deadly shooting at a Gaston County home and ended with a police pursuit in southern Ohio.
The two had been wanted on murder and attempted-murder charges after four people were shot at the Forbes Road residence Thursday morning.
Authorities tracked the pair across multiple states before the Ohio State Highway Patrol located their vehicle near Athens on Friday.
A pursuit followed, ending after the vehicle crashed while attempting to avoid tire-deflation devices.
Officers then reported hearing two gunshots. A drone was used to inspect the vehicle, and Moore and Armstrong were found dead inside.
Authorities have said law enforcement did not fire the shots, but the circumstances surrounding the gunfire and deaths remain under investigation.
Meanwhile, Gaston County Police continue investigating the original shooting, including what led to the violence that left two people dead and two others critically injured.
The full sequence of events remains under investigation in both states.
The families of the victims and everyone affected by the violence are in the thoughts of the communities now dealing with the aftermath of this tragic chain of events.