(HICKORY) – Hickory Police are investigating a homicide that occurred on Sunday, December 7 in the area of Main Ave SW and US Hwy 321.
Hickory officers responded to a report of a shooting in the area of Main Ave SW and US Hwy 321 at 2:42 a.m. When officers arrived, they located Austin Lee Matthew Miller, 25, of Lexington, NC, suffering from gunshot wounds. Miller was pronounced deceased at the scene of the incident.
Officers learned that this shooting was in relation to an active domestic incident in which the involved parties were traveling on US Hwy 321 into the City of Hickory from Caldwell County. James Michael Church, 32, of Granite Falls, was on the scene of the shooting when officers arrived and he was identified as the person who shot Miller.
No charges have been filed as of December 8, 2025. This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact Inv. Ben Rogers at 828-261-2614 or email him at brogers@hickorync.gov