HIGH POINT, N.C.-- Investigators with the Guilford County Sheriff's Office set up an information roadblock on Fairfield Road Thursday in search of two suspects they say shot and killed Vann Yates in his own yard.
Deputies spent about an hour at on the main road near the 57-year-old victim's home, stopping drivers at the junction of Highway 62 and 610.
They say the suspects, most likely, ran to that area and then took off from a vehicle after the shooting on Wednesday.
Investigators asked drivers, like Anita Leonard, to describe anything they might have seen that could turn the case.
"Hey, how are you doing, sir? We're looking into a homicide," said one of the deputies as he approached a vehicle. "Did you come through here about the same time yesterday? Did you see any suspicious vehicles?"
"I think it's terrible. I mean, it's so sad," Leonard told WFMY News 2 after being stopped by deputies. "This is close to home for me."
Captain Robert Elliot with the department says they are "extremely close" to identifying the suspects and one bit of information could help move that process along.
"Until these subjects are picked up, I think there is a level of danger. They've committed a murder here, they are willing to shoot people to get what they want," Captain Elliot said.
He says deputies conducted the roadblock from from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and talked to hundreds of drivers.
He adds that they collected a lot of information that could be valuable to the case.
High Point police have also joined the investigation, according to Lt. Kevin Ray.
"The robberies that we think are connected possibly with this incident took place the day before and those are still open investigations that we're jointly working together now," he said.
As of now, deputies are only releasing vague descriptions of the suspects.
One is described as a black man, 5'6" to 5'08" with a medium build, dark complexion, early to mid-thirties, wearing a grey hoodie, black pants, and black shoes. He might have a tear-shaped scar under his right eye.
The second suspect might be approximately 5'09", medium build, dark complexion, early to mid-thirties, wearing a black long-sleeve hoodie shirt, black pants, and black shoes.
Anyone with information about this crime should call the Guilford County Sheriff's Office at (336) 641-3355 or Crimestoppers at (336) 373-1000.
