The state of North Carolina, Duke Energy and Moore County each have pitched in $25,000 for information that leads to the arrest of a person or the people involved in shooting the utility grid in Moore County on Saturday, Dec. 3.
The incident left more than 45,000 without power during some of the coldest nights of the year in the sandhill region of the state. Gunfire damaged two substations, located 10 miles apart in West End and Carthage, North Carolina. Officials believe the attacks took place within the same hour.
State and federal agents, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, have been assessing the case all week, as the repair process was underway. Schools have been closed in the region and wastewater pumps haven’t been operating.
As of Wednesday evening all power had been restored in Moore County, according to Duke Energy.
The FBI released a poster Wednesday to help generate more leads to find the perpetrators. Law enforcement is suggesting area residents look at their doorbell camera footage for suspicious activity.
“An attack on our critical infrastructure will not be tolerated,” Gov. Roy Cooper said in a press release. “I appreciate the coordinated efforts of law enforcement to leave no stone unturned in finding the criminals who did this and I thank Moore County and Duke Energy for matching the state’s reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.”
The Department of Homeland Security announced Monday the attack seemed deliberate. The county has been under curfew and a state of emergency, which will be lifted Thursday at 5 a.m.
Anyone with information regarding the case should contact the Moore County Sheriff’s Office tipline at (910) 947-4444. Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.
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