(WAGARVILLE, Ala.) Dec. 19 - A small town is in shock, after a well known store owner was robbed and murdered. Police have one person in custody. It all happened Friday morning at the Harris Grocery in the Wagarville community, in Washington County.
Friends and family stood in shock Friday, unable to comprehend why anyone would want to hurt the longtime owner of Harris grocery, Ray Wheat. Ramona Flowers told us, "You could not find anyone that doesn't like him, he's just that good." Washington County Sheriff Richard Stringer got the call Friday morning that someone had been shot in an armed robbery. The entire way to the store, he had a sinking feeling it might be his friend...someone the entire community knew as a giving person.
Ray Wheat inherited the store about 10 years ago, friends told me he's been robbed before but refused to buy a gun because he never wanted to be in the position to hurt someone. Investigators say no one witnessed the shooting--police are still searching for a second suspect.
