North Carolina police have arrested a suspect in the killing of two people during an alleged robbery at a beverage distribution company nearly 20 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Johnny Steven Talbert, a 43-year-old from Port Angeles, Washington, was arrested by local police Thursday, just hours after the Concord Police Department obtained a warrant, according to a news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of robbery with a firearm in connection with the 2008 killings at the Sun Drop Bottling Co. in Concord. The company distributes drinks, including citrus Sun Drop beverages and Snapple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the morning of June 13, 2008, Concord police responded to the beverage distribution center at 360 Old-Salisbury Concord Road after a suspect allegedly opened fire, killing 59-year-old Donna Barnhardt and 44-year-old Darrell Noles, police said. Barnhardt was the company\u2019s office manager, while Noles was there applying for work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The suspect had also stolen money from the office before fleeing the scene, according to police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The years that followed included investigators looking into \u201chundreds of tips from the community,\u201d but the case remained cold until 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThrough a meticulous reexamination of evidence and the pursuit of previously undeveloped leads, detectives uncovered critical information that ultimately led to Talbert\u2019s arrest,\u201d Concord police said in the press release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The North Carolina Police Department contacted the Port Angeles Police Department in December, and detectives eventually traveled to the Northwestern state May 18 \u201cfor further investigation,\u201d according to police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Talbert was arrested three days later and taken into custody without incident, police said. He is awaiting extradition to North Carolina, where he will face his charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cConcord PD would like to thank the Port Angeles Police Department and the community for their assistance throughout the decades-long investigation,\u201d police said in a statement. \u201cThe families of Donna Barnhardt and Darrell Noles have been informed of Talbert\u2019s arrest and the pending charges.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Port Angeles police did not immediately respond to NBC News\u2019 request for comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The investigation into the 2008 killings is ongoing, and Concord police ask anyone with information to get in touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n