Police Release Video of Heist as Victim Is Buried

WARRENTON, N.C. — Friends and family of a murdered Warren County store clerk gathered Monday for his funeral at the same time that sheriff’s deputies were trying to identify and catch three people who a surveillance video showed killing him as he tried to take a sawed-off shot gun away from one of the trio.

Investigators said Randy Terrell was shot and killed Friday night while substituting for a coworker at a convenience store off U.S. Highway 401 in the southern part of the county. He had worked at the store for three months.

The surveillance video from Pa-pa's Country Store shows Randy Terrell working as usual behind the counter. It was just after 9 p.m., investigators said, when three people walked in, one with the shotgun and the other two with rifles.

They demanded money, deputies said.

Within a matter of seconds, they shot Terrell and rummaged through drawers before running out. They are seen on the video unable to figure out how to get he cash register open. They did escape with some money, Sheriff Johnny Williams said, but he did not disclose the amount.

For the past two days, investigators have been trying to identify the suspects. That has been difficult. One is seen in the video to have something like a white scarf wrapped around his or her head. Another has a hockey mask or some other device over his face and the hood or a winter parka over his head.

Warren County deputies are getting help from Franklin County authorities and the State Bureau of Investigation. They said they hoped that releasing the video would prompt someone in the community to come forward with information.

Friends and family remembered Terrell, a father of three. His truck remained parked outside the store while they mourned and buried him.

“I'm extremely angry. I know he's in a better place. I know he's not suffering, I know he didn't suffer. But it doesn't change the fact that they killed him for no reason,” said Terrell’s niece, Dina Davis.

One person witnessed the slaying, a man sitting inside the store. Investigators said he is disabled, however, and may not have fully understood what was happening.