Worker found dead at Concord tire store, man charged with murder after standoff
(Editor’s note: This story has been updated with the name of the victim and information about a GoFundMe account to raise money for his family.)
Police in Concord said a worker at a tire store off Interstate 85 was fatally shot Saturday, and a man was charged with murder after a four-hour stand-off.
“Right now, we don’t know the motivation behind this incident,” Concord Deputy Police Chief Jimmy Hughes said at a news conference, Observer news partner WBTV reported. “Hopefully we will be able to determine that if the suspect is cooperating with us.”
Police identified the victim as 27-year-old Terence Wallace of China Grove.
Late Saturday, police said they charged 39-year-old Jeremy Monty Spann of Lynchburg, S.C., with murder and possession of a firearm by a felon.
At 11:22 a.m., officers responded to a call of a verbal dispute at the Discount Tire store at 575 Dickens Place NE. Officers spoke with store employees who said a co-worker was inside with an armed suspect, according to a Concord Police Department news release.
“After successfully negotiating, the suspect surrendered, officers searched the premise and located a deceased store employee,” according to the release.
Spann was jailed without bail, police said.
A SWAT team was on scene for nearly four hours. Concord Police Department officials said officers initially responded to reports of possible hostages inside the Discount Tire store.
Around noon, Concord Police Department officials reported a SWAT team at the scene, which is off Interstate 85, about 30 minutes north of Charlotte.
Just before 1:30 p.m., WCNC Charlotte journalist Lucas Bogg reported on Twitter, quoting a police department spokesperson, that gunfire had been heard from the business.
“An unknown number of employees exited the business. It’s believed the possible shooter is still in the business, possibly with other people,” Bogg wrote.
Members of the public were advised to stay away from the area. Multiple police agencies responded to assist.
Just before 2:30 p.m., police said they had made contact with “the individual” inside the store. “This is a fluid situation, and as more information becomes available, we will update,” police said on Twitter.
The north- and southbound ramps at Copperfield Boulevard were closed Saturday afternoon because of the situation, police said.
Wallace’s aunt, Magnolia Buntin, started a GoFundMe page to raise money for her nephew’s funeral expenses.
“Terence was a kind and generous young man,” Buntin said on the site.
When Discount Tire later said the chain would cover the funeral expenses, Buntin said her GoFundMe site would continue to raise money for her nephew’s family.
By noon Tuesday, 182 people had donated a total of $13,635, surpassing the $10,000 goal.
“Words cannot express the loss we are feeling,” the Discount Tire chain said in a statement Sunday. “The entire Discount Tire family mourns this loss as we all work through this together.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of our beloved Discount Tire family member.”
The statement said Discount Tire was indebted to the Concord Police Department and surrounding agencies for “their service, response and support.”
This story was originally published November 14, 2020 at 1:21 PM.