RURAL HALL, NC – Forsyth County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a 72-year-old man accused of firing multiple shots at the residence and vehicle of a Walmart manager, allegedly seeking retribution after his girlfriend was terminated from her job at the store.
Larry Keaton Brown faces a series of felony charges following two separate shooting incidents that took place on the night of October 10. Law enforcement officials revealed that Brown was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, as well as eight counts of discharging a firearm into an occupied property.
Deputies with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office initially responded to reports of gunfire on the 1100 block of Pullman Drive in Rural Hall. When they arrived at the scene, residents told dispatchers that several shots had penetrated their home. No injuries were reported, but the property sustained significant damage.
Later that evening, police were called to a Walmart branch in the neighboring community of King, where a manager discovered their unoccupied car had been struck by several bullets. Investigators quickly began exploring the possibility of a connection between the two shootings.
According to authorities, collaboration between the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and the King Police Department, using forensic technology, led investigators to link both incidents. It was determined that the shootings may have been motivated by anger over Brown’s girlfriend being dismissed from her job at Walmart earlier in the week.
How law enforcement established a concrete connection between the girlfriend’s firing and the shootings has not been disclosed. However, investigators cited evidence and information obtained at both crime scenes as key in piecing together the sequence of events.
Brown was apprehended later that week during a traffic stop. Authorities said that during the arrest, Brown allegedly reached for a handgun but was subdued by officers without further incident. He was subsequently transferred to the Stokes County Detention Center.
In addition to the firearms charges, Brown faces allegations related to explosive devices. Earlier this month, authorities searching his home reportedly found materials described as weapons of mass destruction, resulting in an additional charge.
Brown remains in custody without bond, and details regarding his next scheduled court appearance have not yet been released. The investigation is ongoing as law enforcement continues to gather evidence related to both the shootings and the alleged possession of explosives.
Officials have stressed that no one was harmed during the incidents, and the safety of the local community is being prioritized as the case unfolds.