Cooper offers $5K reward in Statesville man's unsolved 2011 homicide

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — Members of an Iredell County family were moved to tears when they learned North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is offering a new reward in the cold-case murder of their son.

"I just sat there and cried last night to think that this was real," said Robin Brewer, the mother of Joey Brewer, who was killed in September 2011.

His parents said they were stunned Thursday when the governor revealed he's now offering a $5,000 reward to catch their son's killer.

"I just said, 'Thank you, Lord.' It's answered prayer. It's moving, it's moving, and we're getting publicity, and we're getting his name out there again," said Tony Brewer, the victim's father.

The leads into Joey Brewer's mysterious slaying have grown cold since he was gunned down.

He was visiting a friend at the Myrtle Place Apartments in Statesville when he was shot in the chest.

The Iredell sheriff said his officers have gone back and re-interviewed people and they've also taken a second look at evidence.

"We just never dreamed it would go this far unsolved," Tony Brewer said.

The 30-year-old was a father of three.

Between the family’s $30,000 reward and the publicity about Cooper's new reward, they now have new hope someone will finally turn in the killer.

"He don't realize what a blessing he gave us yesterday and we're thankful he cared enough to make action happen," Robin Brewer said.

The family hopes the new reward offer will lead to an arrest by the sixth anniversary of their son's murder, which will be in September.

Channel 9 asked the governor's office why he decided to offer a new reward in the case, but did not receive a response.

Investigators are continuing to ask anyone with information about the case to call Crimestoppers.

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