HICKORY, N.C. – A homicide investigation is underway after a man was shot and killed early Sunday morning near Main Avenue SW and U.S. Highway 321. Hickory Police responded to a 2:42 a.m. call reporting a shooting in the area and arrived to find 25-year-old Austin Lee Matthew Miller of Lexington, North Carolina, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to investigators, the incident was connected to an ongoing domestic situation that began in Caldwell County and continued as the individuals traveled along Highway 321 into Hickory. When officers arrived, 32-year-old James Michael Church of Granite Falls was at the scene and was identified as the individual who shot Miller. Police have not filed any charges as of December 8, 2025, and officials say the circumstances of the domestic dispute remain under active review.
Detectives are continuing to gather evidence and interview all parties involved to determine what led to the deadly confrontation.
Authorities are urging anyone with information that could assist in the investigation to contact Investigator Ben Rogers at 828-261-
2614 or brogers@hickorync.gov.
This remains a developing case, and additional details will be released as they become available.