On March 9, 2024, 24-year-old Caleb Loper of Lincolnton, North Carolina, was found deceased alongside 22-year-old Eduardo Cordova of Mooresville in a residence on Home Drive near Mooresville. Both victims had been restrained and suffered fatal gunshot wounds. A third individual was discovered critically injured at the scene and transported to a hospital for treatment.
Investigators quickly identified 39-year-old Justin Michael Strawser as a suspect.
When deputies approached his residence on Ostwalt Amity Road, Strawser barricaded himself inside with four juveniles and began firing at law enforcement officers with an AR-15 rifle. After several hours of attempted negotiations, deputies introduced gas into the home, prompting the juveniles to exit. Strawser, wearing a bulletproof vest, emerged behind them, continuing to fire at deputies, who then returned fire, resulting in his death.
Further investigation revealed that the homicides were not random acts; the victims and Strawser were known to each other, with narcotics and robbery considered possible motives. Authorities arrested Strawser's wife, 40-year-old Ashlee Louise Klepfer, charging her with felony accessory after the fact and multiple counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, among other offenses. Additionally, three juveniles were taken into custody: a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old each charged with two counts of first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, armed robbery, and conspiracy to commit murder; and another 15-year-old charged with assault on law enforcement, possession of methamphetamine, and related offenses.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is overseeing the inquiry into the officer-involved shooting, with involved deputies placed on administrative leave per standard protocol. The tragic events surrounding Loper's death have deeply impacted the local community, prompting ongoing discussions about safety and crime prevention.
