Two men robbed, one shot at Granville County rest stop

Granville County sheriff's officials said an unknown man robbed two men and shot one of them in a rest stop bathroom along Interstate 85 South near Oxford around 11:45 p.m. Thursday.

The victims and shooter did not know each other, according to Detective Bryant Strother, who called it a random act.

One of the victims was shot multiple times and was being treated at a nearby hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

The victims' names were not released, but authorities said one of the men was from Florida and the man who was shot had recently moved to the Charlotte area from Rhode Island.

Authorities said the shooter stood on a urinal, looked over the wall at one of the victims in a stall, pointed a gun and robbed him.

The shooter left in a silver or gold passenger car, and another person could have been in the car as well, according to sheriff's officials. No other details were available.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Granville County Crime Stoppers at 919-693-3100. Callers can remain anonymous. A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered in the case.

Jimmy Parrish, a supervisor in charge of the state's 61 rest stops, said crime is very minimal at the stops and there are no surveillance cameras around the restrooms.

Many drivers who visited the rest stop on Friday said they believe the cameras would go a long way toward restoring their feeling of security.

"They do need to have some security cameras around, not in the restrooms, but at least going in and out of them," Warren County resident Margo Holbrook said.

The Department of Transportation said there is talk of putting cameras in rest stops statewide.