Shatley murder

Officials asking for help in Ashe killing

Authorities hope Explorer driver may have information

December 22, 2005

By Monte Mitchell
JOURNAL REPORTER

GRASSY CREEK

It has been more than a month since Tim Shatley was shot to death a few miles from his Ashe County home, and authorities are asking for help in solving the case.

They are looking for a white Ford Explorer that was seen in the area on the night of Nov. 19 when Shatley died. Authorities hope that the driver might have seen something that would help.

Shatley, 30, was found dead inside a Chevy Astro van on N.C. 16, near a bridge being built over the North Fork of the New River. Someone saw the van wrecked against a concrete barrier at the construction site and called 911.

First responders said they thought that it was an accident, until they noticed a bullet hole in the door.

At least three shots had been fired at Shatley, including one that passed through his upper torso and killed him. Authorities believe that his van traveled about 250 feet after he was shot.

Shatley was returning home from his first night of work at a restaurant in North Wilkesboro. It was a Saturday, and he left work about 10:30, after talking with the owner about how the new job looked as though it would work out well. He was driving his mother's van because his car had recently broken down.

Investigators say they haven't come up with why anyone would want to kill Shatley, who was a husband and father with a good reputation. He was about to finish a culinary degree at Wilkes Community College.

"It's really concerning we've not found anything that this boy was doing that would cause any reason for this," said Maj. Steve Houck of the Ashe County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators ask that anyone with information call the sheriff's office at (336) 219-2600.