A neighbor of the North Carolina couple dubbed “Bonnie and Clyde” said she was stunned to discover they were accused of killing two relatives and injuring two children, describing the family as “very nice people.”
Authorities are still working to determine what led to the violence. Camryn Moore, 26, and Cory Armstrong, 29, allegedly killed two of Moore’s relatives inside the Gastonia home they shared Thursday, then shot themselves Friday following a high-speed police pursuit through southern Ohio.
Neighbor Loretta Forbes told WSOC that she was overwhelmed when she learned about the tragedy.
“I just kept saying, ‘My God. Oh God,’ coming down the stairs,” Forbes said. “They seem to be very nice people. It just shakes you up to think that could happen so close by.”
Forbes said she was left with more questions than answers after Gaston County police went to 2661 Forbes Road at about 8:43 a.m. Thursday. Officers had received reports of gunfire inside the suburban home, where six people—including Moore and Armstrong—lived.
“I want to know what happened. I want to know about the family,” Forbes said, adding that she was praying for those affected.
Another Gastonia resident, Brianna Crouse, said she could hardly believe the shooting had occurred in the neighborhood.
“It’s absolutely nuts. I just can’t believe it,” Crouse told the outlet.
“Nothing bad has ever happened on this road as long as I’ve lived here,” she added.
The suburban community, described by residents as “tight-knit,” sits only a few miles from the South Carolina border and is not accustomed to this level of violence, resident Robert Cline said.
“There really ain’t no trouble down here in south Gastonia,” Cline said.
“We’re pretty tight-knit; people know each other.”
Dispatch audio captured officers piecing together the chaotic scene while responding to 911 calls Thursday.
“We’re going to need multiple ambulances, multiple ambulances,” an officer requested over dispatch, according to FOX 8. “We’ve got several subjects.”
“They’re saying that the niece and the boyfriend are shooting at each other,” which refers to Camryn and Cory.
“Call taker is advising they believe the nephew may be upstairs, was asleep and was shot,” an officer reported, according to FOX 8.
Victoria “Heather” Moore, 50, and Josiah Bumgardner, 38 — Camryn Moore’s mother and uncle — were found dead, according to police. Josiah had previously transitioned from a female, Megan, and had been identifying as male, according to the family.
Two children, one of whom is Heather’s son, Keaton, and another girl, Autumn, were shot and rushed to CaroMont Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries and remained in critical but stable condition, according to a GoFundMe.
Adam Baker, who lives two blocks away, said seeing the massive police presence unnerved him.
“It’s incredibly unusual. I mean it’s a very quiet neighborhood,” Baker said.
It remains unclear what sparked the pair’s alleged bloody rampage.
Following the shootings, Moore and Armstrong took off before authorities tracked them across state lines to Ohio, where they died of gunshot wounds following an intense pursuit.
North Carolina authorities told The Post that both Moore and Armstrong’s deaths are being probed as a possible double-suicide, although the Ohio Highway Patrol declined to confirm that.
