CONCORD, N.C. -- A social media post shared widely on Facebook has the attention of Concord investigators. It compares a sketch of the suspect, thought to be behind the 2008 murders at the Sun Drop Bottling Plant in Concord, to Darren Manuel, the man accused of the I-85 rest stop shooting.
Concord police say they are investigating tips that Manuel looks similar to the Sun Drop murder suspect. One employee who works at the bottling plant noted people ask him at least once a week if there are any updates.
The Facebook post, which reads “Sun Drop shooter vs. I-85 rest stop shooter?” has been shared more than 1,200 times so far. Investigators handling the Sun Drop case say they follow up on tips often, including several in the last year.
Concord police are still searching for the suspect who shot and killed Donna Barnhardt and Darrell Noles at the bottling company in June 2008.
Investigators say the sketch resembles the description of the suspect made by witnesses who saw the person flee afterward. For many, the unsolved case stays on their minds.
"We've received calls and emails from people saying this looks like the guy in the Sun Drop drawing and our composite, so we've been investigating it. People all the time ask us about that case because it's one of the cases everybody remembers,” said Major Gary Hatley with the Concord Police Department.
Police couldn’t release additional details about how they’re following up on the tip, because the Sun Drop case is still an active investigation. The Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office did say they don’t see a connection at this time.