JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. — The Johnston County Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting death of a local businessman.
The body of Keith West, 39, was found by his girlfriend in the bedroom of his home in the Carrie Wood neighborhood around 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Authorities said that he had been shot to death and his death has been ruled suspicious. The State Bureau of Investigation has joined in the search for clues in the incident.
West was the president and chief executive officer of West-Tek Inc. of Smithfield, which provides security and private investigations in several area counties and has several spinoff companies throughout the United States. He was also a former Smithfield police officer.
West and his girlfriend had a baby daughter.



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