OCONEE COUNTY, Ga. — The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office has increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who shot and killed a RaceTrac employee to $50,000.
Elijah Wood, 23, was shot and killed at the RaceTrac on Highway 441 on March 19 around 1:30 a.m.
Surveillance video showed the suspect enter the store wearing a black hoodie and a face mask and armed with a pistol. The suspect was completely covered except for a small portion of his or her eyes.
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Based on the FBI’s video analysis and measurements taken at the scene, the suspect is believed to be between 5′10″ – 6′ tall with an athletic build.
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The sheriff said that prior to Wood’s murder, a vehicle that was traveling south on Highway 441 turned onto Hog Mountain Road, drove past the RaceTrac and turned right onto Welbrook Road, where the vehicle stopped for a period of time before driving away. Investigators think that vehicle is connected to the crime.
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The sheriff’s office said they have taken numerous steps to try to solve the difficult case, including enlisting a certified criminal profiler to review the case, asking the FBI and two private-sector companies to analyze the surveillance videos, distributing thousands of flyers in the community and partnering with numerous other law enforcement agencies.
So far, 43 people have been investigated, 12 search warrants have been executed and countless tips have been investigated.
“This is a very difficult case, and it is still actively being investigated,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “While some individuals wish for the release of more information, the Sheriff’s Office must be careful with the information released to the public in order to maintain the case’s integrity. Please rest assured that solving this crime and successfully prosecuting the perpetrator(s) is our highest priority.”
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 706-769-3945
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