| February
2, 2003 |
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| Flores
Still on the Run...Authorities Continue Search |
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| Burke County investigators continue to pursue
leads in the search for a Hispanic man, charged with two counts of murder
during a weekend poker game shooting. |
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Several homes and
vehicles have been searched in the hunt for Jay Dee Flores (left), 29, but the searches have proved fruitless thus
far, said CID investigator Tim Corriveau of the Burke County Sheriff's
Office.
"We have credible information that he may have left the state,"
Corriveau said. "We have alerted other agencies and hope these safeguards will
lead to his arrest in a peaceful, placatory manner. |
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| "We believe Flores' actual name is Fernando
Morillo," Corriveau said. "In Burke and Caldwell County he is known as J.D.,
but in other states he is known as Fernando." |
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| Corriveau also stated that Flores previously
lived in a garage at 201 Oak Street in Morganton, but is not related to the
owner currently residing there. |
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| Deputies responded to a shooting call at Lot 145
of Timerill Trailer Park on Highway 18 North around 2:00 a.m. Saturday morning
and found Mauricio Medina, 29, of Walt Arney Road, Lenoir, and Gervacio
Salinas, 31, dead inside from apparent gunshot wounds to the head and chest.
Salinas was reportedly the renter of the trailer. |
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| The officers found another man, David Teniente,
of 2969 Playmore Beach Road, Morganton lying in the front yard of the trailer
suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. Teniente was taken to Grace
Hospital for treatment and later transferred to Baptist Hospital in Winston
Salem, where his condition remains serious. |
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| With the assistance of an interpreter during
witness interviews, investigators say they identified Flores as the shooter.
Flores reportedly left the scene after the shooting, and murder warrants were
issued for his arrest. A warrant for attempted murder was also
issued. |
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| "It appears Flores became upset after losing
money to the victims during a poker game," according to CID Lt. John Suttle.
"He was asked to leave and did. He returned about thirty minutes later armed
with a 40 caliber automatic pistol and opened fire on those playing cards."
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| Suttle said there were approximately six people
inside the mobile home at the time of the shooting. |
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| Burke County Sheriff John T. McDevitt and
deputies searched the area for hours, but did not locate Flores. |
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| "We have information that he possibly has left
the area and is attempting to go back to Mexico," McDevitt said. We urge all
citizens to use extreme caution with this man, and to report any sighting of
him to the Burke County Sheriff's Office immediately." |
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| Autopsies are scheduled to be performed on
Medina and Salinas at Baptist Hospital on Monday. |
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| ************************************************************** |
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