Emden Lee Syres Jr., a 47-year-old Caucasian male, was found dead at his residence in Newton, North Carolina, on May 29, 2019. Syres, who was employed in the Information-Technology Department of American Airlines in Charlotte, had not shown up for work for two days, prompting a welfare check by deputies from the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. Upon entering the residence through an open back door, deputies discovered Syres lying dead on the floor with a gunshot wound to the head.
The autopsy report from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center confirmed that Syres died from a lethal gunshot wound to the head and had two additional gunshot wounds to the right shoulder/neck area and the right hand.
The investigation revealed that Justin Drew Dalton, a 35-year-old male from Newton, was responsible for the murder. Dalton and Syres had a verbal altercation on May 27, 2019, which escalated, leading Dalton to shoot Syres. Dalton then left the residence, taking Syres' vehicle and wallet, and used Syres' credit cards for various purchases and to get cash. Dalton was found and detained a day later, making several incriminating comments to officers. During an interview with investigators on May 31, 2019, Dalton admitted to the shooting and provided details of the incident.
Dalton was charged with second-degree murder and larceny of a motor vehicle. He pleaded guilty to both charges and was sentenced to an active prison term of 26 to 32 years by the Honorable William T. Pomeroy, Superior Court Judge from Lincoln County. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lance Sigmon and investigated by Taylor Stout of the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office. Dalton will serve his period of incarceration in the custody of the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections.
