GASTONIA, N.C. — Friday marks three years since the murder of Johnny Moore, who was shot and killed during a home invasion in Gastonia.
His family is now offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest in this case.
Johnny Moore’s brother Stephan Moore said their family is desperately searching for answers. They want justice and for the person responsible for his brother's murder to be held accountable. He said they remain strong while still feeling the impact of the loss all the while keeping Johnny Moore’s name alive.
Three years later, the grief of losing a loved one lingers.
“We grieve every day because there is a piece of our family that is no longer here,” Stephan told WCNC Charlotte's Jesse Pierre.
“We feel it every day that we wake up that he is not here," Johnny's cousin Tasha Smith said. "We would love to have closure. We know there is somebody out there who can give it to us.”
The life of 32-year-old Johnny Moore, or John Luke as he was often called, was stolen.
“They took a brother, a son, a friend, a father a community servant,” Stephan said. “They took a part of our world.”
Johnny Moore, they say, was the one you could always turn to.
“He felt being a barber, he was going to be a therapist, a servant someone who provided an outlet for every individual who came to sit in his chair,” Stephan added.
Johnny Moore leaves behind a son.
“We will share memories with him of his dad growing up and of his dad being a star football player and a star basketball player,” Stephan said. “We want him to know that his dad loved him unconditionally.”
Johnny Moore was killed during a home invasion in July of 2021 in what his brother calls a senseless act of violence.
“My biggest concern is that this case will go silent,” Stephan said. “I don’t want that to be the case.”
Three years later, the case may be unsolved but not forgotten.
Moore’s family hopes the reward leads to an arrest and hope for closure.
“Giving us closure won’t bring John back, but it would help our family pull closer,” Smith said. “We would know what happened and know who has done it and we can move forward.”
“As long as my family is here, and as long as I’m here, we will keep urgency and voice to his name until the police department can bring closure to this case,” Stephan said.
Johnny Moore’s family say they are also planning to launch a billboard next month in hopes of reaching someone with information in this case.
Gastonia police say they continue to work on this case and remind the public that if you do have information you can call Gaston County crime stoppers, give that information and remain completely anonymous.
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.