No leads in local shooting
By John Joyce
Published in News on December 11, 2012 1:46 PM
Justin Travis Lancaster
It has been seven weeks since law enforcement officers found Justin Travis Lancaster lying shot to death in the middle of Linen Lane.
Since then, there have been two candlelight vigils held at the scene by the 25-year-old's family and friends. A third gathering has been planned for Christmas Eve.
What there has not been is any advancement in solving the crime.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office has investigated the few leads in the case, with no success. Finding answers won't be easy. Unlike several more recent shootings, there were no witnesses to the assault that occurred just before midnight on Oct. 24.
Other than Lancaster's vehicle parked nearby and a recovered cell phone, "there was nothing," said Lt. Tom Flores of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff's Office investigators say they still haven't developed a suspect. They have followed up on some leads and are still looking to speak to potential witnesses, Flores said, but he would not say much more.
Kristy Thompson, Lancaster's sister, said she is hoping someone will come forward and say something that will help lead authorities to the perpetrator.
"Somebody is holding the key to the whole case," Mrs. Thompson said.
She and her family are doing the best they can to keep Travis' image alive in the community in the hopes that a clue or tip will surface and an arrest made.
There are two Facebook pages in remembrance of Travis, Mrs. Thompson said, and more posters have been placed around the area where he was murdered.
The family still visited the beach at Thanksgiving, as has been their tradition -- it was a trip that Travis looked forward to every year.
Mrs. Thompson said she felt her brother was there, too.
With Christmas coming, they will come together again and hope that soon, Travis' killer will be brought to justice.
Anyone with information regarding the murder is asked to call Detective Sgt. Richard Winders of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office at 919-731-1480.
Anonymous tips called in to Crime Stoppers at 919-735-2255, or text to 919-222-4230, that lead to an arrest could result in a cash reward of up to $1,000.