Police in Hillsborough, North Carolina have arrested a man in connection with the October 2022 robbery incident that led to the homicide of Home Depot employee Gary Rasor.
Terry McAnthony McMillian Jr., 26, of Durham, North Carolina was arrested on January 24th and charged with first-degree murder and robbery. He was taken into custody in Durham at approximately 7 a.m. and incarcerated in Orange County Jail. He is being held without bond.
Surveillance footage from the October incident shows associate Gary Rasor stepping out of the booth in the store’s garden department and approaching a masked suspect as he is attempting to exit the store with a shopping cart filled with three pressure washers. Rasor attempts to step in front of the suspected thief and extends his arm while trying to deter the alleged theft, but when confronted, the suspect can be seen using his right arm to violently shove the employee to avoid detention, sending Rasor to the concrete floor while the suspect continues to push the cart out of the store. As he falls to the floor, he can be seen hitting his head on a potted plant as he violently hits the concrete. Surveillance footage then shows the suspect fleeing the scene in a white, four-door Hyundai Sonata with “obscured” North Carolina temporary tags, according to police investigators.
The 83-year-old employee was left unable to walk, being rushed to the hospital while suffering a broken pelvis and hip, as well as having a mild heart attack. He was later transferred to a rehab facility where his condition continued to deteriorate. On December 1st, weeks after the initial attack, Rasor died due to complications from his injuries. Hillsborough Police confirmed his death was linked to the injuries he suffered as a result of the incident and the medical examiner ruled Rasor’s death a homicide.
Police Arrest the Suspect
Investigators diligently sought the suspect in the weeks following the theft, pursuing leads and conducting their investigation. A reward of up to $10,000 had even been offered for information involving the case. The suspect observed in the surveillance video was described as a Black male about 6 feet tall, but his face is somewhat obscured by a face mask and a hooded jacket pulled onto his head. However, according to reports, Gary Rasor’s wife claimed that her husband recognized the suspect as a frequent visitor to the store. “He knows the guy is a thief…he’s seen him in the store before and what he told me was that sometimes the guy will buy one or two items so he has a receipt, and then he’ll add more stuff to his cart and flash the receipt.”
Public support for the case was also very strong, with numerous media outlets posting the suspect’s image and asking for assistance in identifying the perpetrator.
Pursuant to their investigation, on Tuesday morning, after consulting with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and receiving the necessary support to charge McMillian prior to the arrest, Hillsborough Police Department investigators took action, apprehending McMillian without incident. The arrest occurred with the support of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation Raleigh-Durham Safe Streets Task Force, and in conjunction with the Durham County and Orange County sheriff’s offices.
“We are glad we were able to bring some closure to this case and are very appreciative of the family’s patience and support,” Hillsborough Police Chief Duane Hampton said. “This was a team effort involving many of our local criminal justice partners, the SBI, and the public.”
A Home Depot spokesperson reported “We’re relieved that the man responsible for Gary’s death was brought to justice and appreciate local law enforcement for staying vigilant and making the arrest.”
While McMillian remains in custody, the investigation is ongoing as investigators continue to gather evidence and information to support the case. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Hillsborough Investigator Andrew Jones at 919-296-9562.