James Thomas Tommy Ellington Jr., 61, was found shot to death outside his home in Henderson, North Carolina, on October 2, 2017. Born in Vance County, he was the son of James Thomas Jimmy and Patricia Abbott Ellington, operated Quality Equipment LLC, a John Deere dealership, and was a member of Carey Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Allen Ellington, and their son, Brian A. Ellington.

The investigation produced an arrest: Kevin Burton Munn was charged in connection with the killing. Munn faced multiple counts including first-degree murder, breaking and/or entering, felony larceny, and robbery with a dangerous weapon; a Vance County grand jury returned indictments tied to the shooting. The State Bureau of Investigation offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Neighbors and friends said the arrest eased some of the uncertainty that had hung over the community.

If anyone knew Tommy, his routines, or saw anything around his Henderson home in the days before October 2, 2017, please come forward with information.