MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Iredell County deputies and detectives located a double murder suspect who barricaded himself in a residence with four juveniles before being killed, according to a news release.
The release states that on March 9, 2024, Iredell County Sheriff’s Office arrived at a residence where shots were reportedly fired and found one critically injured victim and two deceased victims. After a quick investigation, Sheriff Darren Campbell said that deputies were led to a residence on Oswalt Amity Road and a man pointed a gun at them and later began firing at them with an AR-15.
Negotiations attempting to get the man, identified as Justin Strawser, out of the house failed, but investigators learned there were four juveniles in the house with Straswer, who refused rescue attempts by deputies, as said by the Sheriff’s Office.
Justin Strawser
Over the course of the next several hours, Strawser fired numerous rounds at deputies after attempts to get him to come out of the house, according to the release. The release also says that gas was later introduced into the residence after numerous negotiations failed and resulted in the juveniles fleeing the home and the suspect exiting behind them. Deputies say the suspect fired his rifle at the deputies and they returned fire, killing Strawser. He was pronounced dead at the scene. and the juveniles and deputies were unharmed, according to the sheriff.
The murder victims were identified as Eduardo Cordova, 22, and Caleb Loper, 24, and were known to Strawser, with deputies speculating that narcotics and robbery were a possible motive.
