Cary police probe Crossroads Plaza shooting

Police were searching Sunday for a man wanted in a shooting and attempted armed robbery outside the Honey Baked Ham Company in Cary.

The shooting happened around 8:30 p.m. Saturday when a worker, Richard Huether, was closing the 423 Crossroads Blvd. store. Police said the gunman approached Huether, attempted to rob him and shot him.

Emergency crews took Huether, 44, of Willow Spring, to WakeMed. He was listed in good condition Sunday evening.

“It is Cary. Nothing really happens like that here in Cary. It's OK to leave your windows rolled down on your car if it's a nice night as you walk away,” shopper Carlyn Holland said.

Many customers of Crossroads Plaza shopping were talking about the shooting Sunday. Holland said she was eating dinner Saturday night near the Honey Baked Ham store when the shooting happened.

“Now that it has happened, the idea is in your head and it could happen anytime,” Holland said.

People who work at Crossroads Plaza said they were also thinking about safety in wake of the shooting. Employees at Greek Fiesta work late, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. They said they will now be looking over their shoulders when locking up at closing time.

“Especially after 10 p.m., I would say there are not many people around here. So we definitely have to be looking for suspicious activity,” said Ihssan Essadik, a Greek Fiesta employee.

Cary police say they plan to have more patrols in the area until the suspect is arrested.

“This is Crossroads. Everybody thinks this is a safe place,” Essadik said.

The suspect seen running from the area was described as a white man, 16 to 25 years old, police said. He was wearing a gray hooded jacket, a white and green ski hat, blue jeans and multi-colored shoes.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Cary police watch commander at 919-469-4016 or Crime Stoppers at 919-226-2745.