This 35-year-old barber was found shot to death inside shop in 2005. 14 years later, still no arrests

Thursday, November 21, 2019
Family seeks closure in 2005 Fayetteville cold case murder
Family seeks closure in 2005 Fayetteville cold case murder

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Those who love Creg Johnson have never given up on getting closure. On Wednesday, they returned to the area where he was murdered to search for answers.

Johnson, 35, was found shot to death on Nov. 20, 2005. His body was inside Line Up Barber Shop in the 6300 block of Yadkin Road. Investigators said the young barber had been shot five times.

"We want closure on this," said Jane Smith, Johnson's aunt.

"Fourteen years...," said Lynwood Smith, her husband and Johnson's uncle.

"Creg was very dear to us." Jane Smith added.

Johnson was last seen by a late-night customer on the evening of November 19. Before that, detectives said he had been to a party on Kelmscot Court, just seven minutes away from the shop.

Investigators said Johnson most likely knew whoever shot him, and it's probable that he let that person into the shop.

His aunt, Linda Thomas, said Johnson was a "gentle giant" with no known enemies.

"As far as we knew, he didn't have anybody that he was having arguments with or anything," Thomas said.

On Wednesday morning, Johnson's family teamed with the Fayetteville Police Department to canvass for clues in the Yadkin Road area.

Michael Lewis remembers the case like it was yesterday.

"I had bought this property and moved in this house the very night that he was killed, so I moved in and the next morning there were cars parked all over the streets, and I later found out that he had been murdered," Lewis said.

Although Thomas said they haven't heard of any new leads since canvassing Yadkin Road last year, she's hoping 2019 will be the last year they need to do it.

"Please come forward so you can clear your mind and your heart and so that we can move on," she said.

Fayetteville police, the governor's office and family members have put together a $10,000 reward.