A man dies of single gunshot wound during a robbery
In the early hours of a Saturday morning, a life was tragically cut short in a crime that has remained a mystery for decades. On February 15, 1986, William Haygood was working the night shift as a clerk at the Econo Lodge Motel at 135 Summit Avenue in Greensboro, North Carolina. His shift, like many others, was likely a quiet one until just before 1 a.m., when the peace was violently shattered.
At approximately 1 a.m., officers from the Greensboro Police Department were dispatched to the motel. Upon their arrival, they made a grim discovery. Behind the check-in counter, they found William Haygood lying on the floor, unresponsive. The subsequent investigation determined that he had been the victim of a robbery and had died from a single gunshot wound. The perpetrator had fled the scene, leaving behind a puzzle that investigators are still trying to piece together more than thirty years later.
The investigation into William Haygood's murder was launched immediately, with detectives from the Greensboro Police Department canvassing the area and searching for any piece of evidence that could lead them to the person responsible. Summit Avenue, a busy thoroughfare running through the city, would have offered multiple escape routes. Despite their efforts, the case grew cold. No suspects were publicly identified, and no arrests were made, leaving a void in the lives of those who knew and cared for William.
Decades have passed, but the commitment to solving this case has not wavered. The Greensboro Police Department continues to list William Haygood's homicide as an active cold case, hoping that the passage of time may encourage someone with knowledge of the crime to come forward. Investigators believe that even a small, seemingly insignificant detail could be the key to breaking the case open and finally providing answers. The motive appears to have been robbery, a senseless act of violence that ended a man's life for what was likely a small amount of cash from the motel register.
The case of William Haygood is a stark reminder of the lasting impact of violent crime on a community. For years, his story has been one of the many unsolved homicides that local law enforcement and organizations like Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers refuse to forget. They continue to highlight the case, seeking to generate new leads from the public.
As of today, the murder of William Haygood remains unsolved. The Greensboro Police Department and Crime Stoppers are urging anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem, to step forward. A cash reward of up to $2,000 is offered for information that leads to the arrest or indictment of the person or persons responsible for this crime. All tips provided to Crime Stoppers are completely anonymous. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000 or submit a tip online.
