Three Years Later, Sun-Drop Suspect Still At Large

CONCORD, N.C.,None — The Sun-Drop shootings remain a most frustrating case for the Concord Police and families of the victims.

Three years after someone shot and killed Darrell Noles and Donna Barnhardt, police haven't found the shooter. They've gathered and followed leads, but none have panned out enough to make an arrest.

"The same people that were on the scene back in 2008 are still on this case," Interim Police Chief Guy Smith said. "We certainly hope the next call that comes in will take us where we need to be or give us probable cause for an arrest."

But the information just isn't there yet, Smith said.

The Noles and Barnhardt families are living without their loved ones and with no word on the case. That takes a toll.

"We don't know no more than the first day," said R.S. Noles, Darrell's father. "I miss him, but catching that fellow that done it wouldn't bring Darrell back."

Noles said the case makes him feel bad.

"I saw it on TV the other night and it broke my heart," Noles, 74, said. "We just make it day-by-day, by the grace of the Lord."

There are fresh banners in front of the Sun-Drop Bottling Co. on Branchview Drive, still announcing the $85,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest.

The pictures of Donna Barnhardt and Darrell Noles are juxtaposed with the sketch of the purported suspect, who, after he shot Barnhardt and Noles, grabbed a cash box and disappeared into a neighborhood on Cabarrus Avenue.

The banners are a constant, visible, reminder of the unsolved case.

John King, the Sun-Drop Bottling owner, said he and his employees talked about the anniversary a little bit on Monday.

"It's pretty frustrating," he said. "When something like this happens to you, you want immediate justice. I still talk somewhat on a regular basis with the police, who are still following leads.'

Those leads, which came pouring in immediately after the shootings and after America's Most Wanted broadcasted an episode about the case nationally in 2009, have come up short.

But that's doesn't keep Concord Police from moving forward on the case, Smith said.

"We've been all over the state, we've been out-of-state," Smith said. "We want to bring closure to the families and for the Sun-Drop Bottling Co. It has been tragic for them, and we want to bring justice for them."

WSOC