Alex Hipple Obituary News: Two suspects in custody after fatal Saturday shooting in Troutman; James Richard Gann arrest & charges.
According to the Troutman Police Department in a media release on Friday, November 10, 2023, on Saturday, November 4, 2023, Zachary Craig, 20, and Alexander Hipple, 18, agreed to meet two suspects in the parking lot of 204 Mills Avenue in Troutman to sell the suspects marijuana. When they arrived the suspects approached the victim’s vehicle and pointed firearms at the victims demanding that they hand over the marijuana.
The victims attempted to leave by driving away from the scene of the attempted robbery. One suspect opened fire on the vehicle and stuck Hipple three times and Craig one time. Hipple died as a result of the injuries he sustained.
The Troutman Police Department and NC SBI were able to identify a 17-year-old juvenile as one of the suspects and he was taken into custody on November 7, 2023, without incident. This suspect is being held at a juvenile detention center awaiting the case being moved to Superior Court where he will be tried as an adult, police said.
According to police, the second suspect has been identified as James Richard Gann, 19, of 20359 Christofle Drive, Cornelius, NC. Warrants for Gann’s arrest have been obtained. Investigators with the Troutman Police Department and NC SBI served a search warrant at Gann’s residence with the assistance of the Cornelius Police Department to attempt to locate Gann and gather additional evidence. Gann was not located and is believed to have fled out of state.
If you have information on Gann’s current location please contact the Troutman Police Department at 704-528-7610. If you see Gann please call 911 and do not approach him as he is considered to be armed and dangerous.