One Suspect In-Custody, Two At-Large After Hickory Shooting

HICKORY, N.C. — Hickory police say two people were injured during an attempted robbery at a Budget Inn Express Monday morning. One suspect was also injured during the incident and has since been charged while officers are searching for two additional suspects.

Police responded to the hotel located on U.S. Highway 70 SW around 3:30 a.m. after reports of two people being shot. Upon arrival, officers located 37-year-old Christopher Burton who was shot in the arm and 46-year-old Carlie Burton with a gunshot wound to her chest. Both victims were transported to the hospital.

Around 10 minutes later officers responded to a third shooting victim, later identified as 25-year-old Marquel Jackson, along the same highway with an injury to his right leg, police say.

Through an investigation, police determined that Jackson and three other men went to the hotel with the intent to rob the two victims. Two of the men walked into the victims’ room with Jackson while one remained in the vehicle.

Christopher attempted to flee the room when the suspects entered and was shot in the arm by  25-year-old Olajawan Hairston, police say. Hairston then shot Carlie and the Burton’s dog. According to police, the third suspect that entered the room has been identified as 26-year-old Raheem Hauser.

The suspect that remained in the vehicle has not been identified.

Jackson was shot by Hairston while he was attempting to flee the vehicle the suspects were driving in. Jackson was treated for his injuries and charged with two counts of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon after his release, according to a news release.

Warrants have been issued for Hairston for one felony count of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon and three felony counts of Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Injury, according to police. Warrants have also been issued for Hauser for two felony counts of Conspiracy to Commit Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon.

Winston Salem Police stopped the suspect’s vehicle around 10 a.m. Monday and two men believed to be Hairston and Hauser ran from the vehicle and escaped. Officers believe that Hairston and Hauser are still possibly in the Winston Salem area and should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information regarding this on-going investigation is encouraged to call the Hickory Police Department at 828-328-5551.