NC Wanted: Navy veteran killed in 2016 drive-by shooting in Vance County

The Vance County Sheriff's Office is following up on leads, trying to find the person who killed 69-year-old Navy veteran Ray Harrell in a drive-by shooting on October 22, 2016 around 5:45 p.m.

Harrell was standing at his front door on Hight Street, in a neighborhood he had lived in for more than 25 years, when someone in a white car drove by and shot him.

Neighbor William Bullock said his son often walked across the street and came back home with candy, courtesy of Ray Harrell. He said that is a good example of his character.

Neighbors are devastated and confused about why someone would kill him.

“He was doing some yard work, and of course my five-year-old comes along, and we go over there and help him move debris and all that good stuff. Just as happy as he wants to be,” Bullock said.

Timothy Starnes said he and Harrell's relationship went beyond friendly neighbors.

“Ray was pretty much like a brother. And I would love to see them catch the person,” Starnes said.

“At this time of day, I thought it was just some crazy neighbors that moved in you know shooting up in the air or something and then all of a sudden that car flew right by the road here.”

Other than the white car, a description of the suspect is too vague to share.

Harrell's wife and two children were inside the house at the time of shooting, but were unharmed.