Woman Charged

A woman has been charged with murder in connection with the death of a man whose body was discovered Monday in a Hickory apartment complex.

Reports with Hickory Police say Bryana Martines is charged with first-degree murder and possession of a stolen vehicle.

She was reportedly booked into the Catawba County jail under no bond.

Previous reports say the 72-year-old man identified as Robert Bruce Godfrey was found deceased inside his apartment at Preston Ridge off Startown Road.

Godfrey’s vehicle had also been stolen and was recovered by Charlotte Mecklenburg Police in the possession of 28-year-old Abraham Adon of Fort Mill.

Adon is currently being held in SC awaiting extradition for possession of a stolen motor vehicle and flee to elude arrest with a motor vehicle.

This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information is urged to call Hickory Police at 328-5551.

Hickory Shooting

Authorities in Catawba County continue to search for suspects wanted in connection with a Wednesday evening shooting in Hickory.

Hickory Police were called to the 800 Block of First Street Southeast to a reported shooting just after 11 p.m.

Upon arrival, officers found 26-year-old Michael Emmanuel Tucker sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound.

Tucker was initially transported to Catawba Valley Medical Center, and later air-lifted to Carolina’s Med Center where he remains in critical condition.

Reports say the initial investigation revealed that Tucker had left his apartment to travel to a nearby convenience store prior to gunshots being fired.

Reports further state it appears the suspects fired multiple shots into Tucker’s vehicle from the roadway.

Anyone having information about the incident should call Hickory Police at 328-5551.

Vang Sentenced

A Hickory man receives a prison term of up to eight years after pleading guilty to drug charges.

39-year-old Peng Vang will also be required to pay a mandatory fine of 50-thousand dollars for trafficking and selling meth.

Reports say Vang sold meth to an undercover officer from Caldwell County in July 2019 in the parking lot of a business in Hickory.

A week later, the officer made another purchase of a trafficking amount of methamphetamine from Tucker while at a Hickory residence.

The case was investigated by Hickory Police.