Cody Williams Watts, a 28-year-old male from Hickory, NC, tragically lost his life on March 4, 2016, following a shooting incident at a McDonald's restaurant. Cody, who was born on January 27, 1988, in Catawba County, was an assistant manager at the McDonald's where the incident occurred. He was a loving son, brother, uncle, and father, and was expected to graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering in May 2016. Cody was shot in his vehicle just before 7 p.m.
on March 2, 2016, at the McDonald's off Highway 321. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and later passed away on March 4, 2016.
The incident also claimed the life of Richelle Scott Lail, a 22-year-old woman who was found lying on the ground suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. She died at the scene. The shooting was believed to have occurred due to a domestic dispute. Eric Terril Yount, a 22-year-old male, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Richelle Lail. The investigation into the incident continued, and further charges against Yount were being considered by the District Attorney's Office.
Cody Watts and Richelle Lail were both employees at the McDonald's restaurant and had met there on the evening of the incident. According to investigators, Yount showed up at the restaurant and rammed Watts' truck with his vehicle. An altercation ensued, during which Yount shot and killed Lail and then shot into Watts' truck, hitting him several times. Yount was arrested shortly after the incident and was initially charged with murder and attempted murder. Following Watts' death, the charges against Yount were expected to be upgraded to murder.
The case garnered significant attention, with law enforcement working diligently to gather evidence and build a strong case against Yount. The investigation revealed that Yount and Lail had been in a relationship for several years and had two children together. However, their relationship had recently unraveled, leading to the tragic events of that evening. Yount's court appearance was brief, and he showed no emotion during the proceedings. He remained in custody without bond as the legal process continued.
