JACKSONVILLE — Kim Hua Flournoy, a 65-year-old grandmother who frequented TNT Beach Bingo on Henderson Drive, was shot and killed at around 7:40 p.m. on Dec. 30.
NCIS has joined Crime Stoppers, the Jacksonville Department of Public Safety, family and friends and area businesses, including the bingo hall, in upping the reward for information in the case. The reward is now up to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest.
Flournoy was the mother of two adult children, one a federal law enforcement officer and the other a social worker. She had one grandson. Family said Flournoy loved Jacksonville and loved playing bingo. The widow of an active duty Marine, Flournoy worked aboard Camp Lejeune for several years until her death.
“She deserves everything we can give her,” said Joe Kennedy, special agent in charge of NCIS Carolinas Field Office, which added $2,500 to the reward pot Friday.
Jacksonville Public Safety Director Mike Yaniero said someone in the community knows who killed Flournoy.
“I truly believe someone out there has the exact piece of information we need,” Yaniero told the Jacksonville Daily News in a sit-down interview Friday that included Yaniero, Kennedy and Capt. Jason Bettis, supervisor of the JPD Investigations Division.
Bettis said detectives are working the case like the shooting happened yesterday.
“We want the public and the suspect to know we’re not stopping,” Bettis said, adding that investigators continue to conduct interviews and collect evidence. He said they have a person of interest in the case, but didn’t want to elaborate. The suspect has been identified and questioned by investigators but no arrest has yet been made.
Surveillance video shows a man walking up to Flournoy and shooting her in the face.
“This is our man,” Bettis said.
Police have sent the footage to the Secret Service for enhancements. Yaniero said the public would be shown the video if it is improved upon.
The black-and-white footage already turned over to media outlets including The Daily News shows a suspect get out of a white or silver Dodge Avenger, walk across the back parking lot of the bingo hall, briefly struggle with someone off camera, then fire a shot.
Flournoy died of a gunshot wound to the face, according to her death certificate.
The shooting suspect is described as a male, wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt, jeans and black gloves. The subject was wearing white athletic-type shoes with a black stripe design. Surveillance footage shows the suspect getting out of and back into a white or silver Dodge Avenger.
“Someone has the piece of information that is the key to solving this case,” Yaniero said.
Yaniero, Bettis and Kennedy said someone may have important knowledge and not know it. They may have seen the car somewhere that day or may know who sold the gun to the suspect or what happened to the firearm after the crime.
“We need those folks to muster up the courage to come forward,” Kennedy said.
Bettis pointed out that knowledge of a crime is not a crime in North Carolina.
“You’re not culpable just because you know something,” Bettis said.
Police encourage anyone with any information — no matter how unimportant they think it might be — to call Crime Stoppers. Callers are not required to reveal their identities to obtain rewards.
Anyone with information about the incident, suspects or vehicle is asked to contact JPD detective Gary Manning at 910-938-6405 or gmanning@ci.jacksonville.nc.us, or Crime Stoppers at 910-938-3273.
You can reach Lindell Kay at 910-219-8455 or lindell.kay@jdnews.com.