Mystery lingers after Moore County substation attack
Three years after gunfire shut down two substations, cutting power to 40,000 people and causing one death, investigators still have no suspect in custody.
Image for illustrative purposes
USA, North Carolina, Moore County: It has now been three years since two electrical substations in Moore County were shot at on 3 December 2022, plunging more than 40,000 residents into darkness during a cold snap. Power was out for as long as five days in some areas, and one woman died after her oxygen machine stopped working. Despite the impact, no one has been arrested.
The Moore County Sheriff’s Office has not released any new findings. When asked whether the case remains a priority, what progress has been made, or whether the public can assist, Sheriff Ronnie Fields declined to provide answers. He stated only that the department is working with the FBI and may hold a joint press briefing “if and when.”
Investigators previously released a photo of a minivan believed to be connected to the crime and identified a person of interest within two days. The FBI continues to assist, and a reward of up to $100,000 is still being offered for information leading to an arrest.
The attack prompted Duke Energy to enhance substation security and improve grid resilience so that a single failure does not leave thousands without power. Spokesperson Jeff Brooks said the company has introduced a combination of visible and unseen protections, and is also building a new substation in the area to reduce risk. He noted that some changes are physical barriers, while others involve monitoring and switching capabilities not accessible to the public.
Source: WRAL News
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