Cumberland County Public Information Officer Debbie Tanna said 66-year-old Ranesh Rai was shot and killed during the armed robbery. Rai, his sister and a customer were inside the shop when the robbery occurred. Rai's sister and the customer were not injuried.
The suspects escaped with an undetermined amount of money.
Wanted for murder are 18-year-old Angel Bonilla, 19-year-old Luis Marquez-Lopez and 18-year-old Patrick King.
Bonilla is described as a black male with multiple tattoos along both arms. He was identified in surveillance video as wearing a striped shirt and brandishing a shot gun held together with masking tape.
Marquez-Lopez is also a black male, approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 130 pounds. He has multiple tattoos on his arms and was wearing a dark colored Carolina Panthers hoodie during the robbery.
King is a black male who is also believed to be Rai's assailant. He is seen in the surveillance video wearing khaki colored shorts. He is tall and has a short haircut.
Residents said they are concerned about the attack, especially considering the situation with police in Spring Lake.
Back in May, a judge stripped the Spring Lake police force of its power after corruption allegations surfaced. Cumberland County deputies are now in charge of patrolling the town.
"Because, as far as people know, there are no cops here," customer Sharon Cipriano said. "And it's a shame, because they need a police force."
"Be nice if Spring Lake could get its police force back up and running," tobacco shop owner Taylor Godwin said.
Godwin and his wife run a tobacco store across the street from the doughnut shop. He said until the police return in full force, he's prepared to shoot any intruders.
"I would hate to have to do it," he said. "But I have children to raise and if comes between me and that, I plan on being here to raise my children."
Anyone with information regarding the robbery or the death of Rai is urged to contact the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office at (910) 323-1500. You may also leave anonymous information on the TIPSLINE at 484-TIPS (8477).
