A 25-year-old Lexington man, Austin Lee Matthew Miller, died early Sunday morning in a shooting that Hickory Police say stemmed from an ongoing domestic incident that began in Caldwell County.
Officers responded at 2:42 a.m. on December 7 to reports of a shooting near Main Avenue SW and U.S. Highway 321. When they arrived, they found Miller suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to investigators, the shooting happened during an active domestic situation involving individuals traveling south on Highway 321 into Hickory. James Michael Church, 32, of Granite Falls, was located on scene and identified as the individual who shot Miller.
As of December 8, no charges have been filed, and the case remains under active investigation.
Hickory Police are urging anyone with information to contact Investigator Ben Rogers at 828‑261‑2614 or by email at brogers@hickorync.gov.
Family Mourning a Deep, Personal Loss
Miller’s death has left his family and community devastated. His mother, Amber Nicole Miller, shared a heartbreaking tribute expressing the deep bond she had with her son:
“If you knew Austin then you knew one thing, and that was that he loved his momma and his momma loved him. I have spent a lot of time staring at my phone looking at the missed call at 12:24 a.m. when he left for Hickory, and the dead battery at 3:00 a.m. on 321 south… headed home. Trying to make sense of it all.”
“I never do not wake up when he calls me. I am always there when he needs me. Any other Saturday night I would’ve still been awake. I would’ve answered that call and said, ‘Come to wherever I am, or I will come to you.’”
Friends describe Austin as a caring, loyal young man whose loss will be felt profoundly by those who knew him.
Developing Story
This homicide investigation is ongoing, and additional updates are expected as detectives work to piece together the events leading up to the shooting. Local authorities encourage the public to come forward with any information that could assist in the case.
