Executive Summary
- Austin Lee Matthew Miller, 25, was found dead from gunshot wounds near U.S. Highway 321.
- Police identified James Michael Church, 32, as the shooter, though no charges have been filed.
- The shooting is linked to a domestic incident involving individuals traveling from Caldwell County.
HICKORY, N.C. — Authorities in Hickory have launched a homicide investigation following a fatal shooting early Sunday morning that police say stemmed from a domestic incident. According to the Hickory Police Department, officers responded to reports of gunfire on Main Avenue SW near U.S. Highway 321 at approximately 2:45 a.m.
Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement personnel discovered 25-year-old Austin Lee Matthew Miller suffering from fatal gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the location. Investigators identified 32-year-old James Michael Church as the shooter. Police reports indicate that the confrontation was directly linked to an active domestic incident involving parties who were traveling from Caldwell County into Hickory along U.S. Highway 321.
officials have stated that no charges have been filed against Church at this time. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting is ongoing, and detectives are currently seeking additional information from the public to clarify the sequence of events. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Hickory Police Department.
Investigative Outlook
The absence of immediate charges in a homicide investigation often indicates that authorities are carefully reviewing evidence regarding self-defense or the specific legal dynamics of the altercation before consulting with the District Attorney. Investigators will likely focus on establishing the precise timeline of the domestic dispute as it escalated during transit. It is important to note that no charges have been filed at this stage, and all individuals involved in criminal investigations are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
