Police Cast Wider Net in Search for Deacon's Slayer

Raleigh, N.C. — Raleigh investigators believe robbery could have been the motive in the fatal shooting of a 74-year-old church deacon who was attacked outside his home Tuesday night.

Thursday, they expanded their plea for information, asking people to call police at 919-890-3555 or Crime Stoppers at 919-226-CRIME if they have information about robberies or attempted robberies in the Wallingford Drive area where Richard Gus Brown was slain.

They also put up posters at local stores in an effort to generate leads.

"We know that there have been 11 robberies since Aug. 1 in that wide general area," Raleigh police spokesman Jim Sughrue said. The neighborhood is off Spring Forest Road between Capital Boulevard and Louisburg Road.

Brown had returned from church to his apartment shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday and was checking his mail when someone shot him.

Investigators spent hours examining the scene on Tuesday and Wednesday and canvassed the neighborhood Thursday looking for evidence.

Meanwhile, neighbors reeled from Brown's death, which has shocked the apartment community.

"I was here by myself, so I was a little nervous – and to see everything right out my window," neighbor Tamara Squires said.

Residents of the Wallingford Drive apartment complex said they have experienced very little crime in their neighborhood, but fear Brown's death has changed that.

"It could happen anywhere, so you have to be nervous anywhere you are," said resident Patrick Hand. "I just never thought it would happen in this neighborhood."