WTSB News has uncovered new details in the July 2nd murder of a Clayton man.
Garrett Alexander Howard Bridges, 25, was shot and killed inside his home at 68 Herndon Court in the Mitchiner Hills community in the Clayton city limits. Last week a $5,000 reward was offered by Clayton Police for information leading to the arrests of the suspects. However no arrests have yet to be made.
WTSB News obtained a copy of a search warrant executed by police at the address hours after the fatal shooting which revealed details not yet disclosed by investigators.
At 12:59am on July 2nd, Clayton Police received a frantic 911 call reporting a home invasion. When officers arrived they discovered the front door to the home was open and shell casings on the living room floor and in the hallway.
Bridges body was located lying on his back on the floor of the master bedroom.
Witnesses reporting seeing two black men wearing dark colored bandanas forcibly enter the home and chase Bridges to the master bedroom. They forced him to his knees and said several times, “Where is it at?” The gunmen then searched the bedroom for a book bag, shot Bridges, then fled the scene. Bullet holes were found in the interior and exterior walls of the homes.
The witnesses said Bridges “frequently met with individuals” and “kept his ‘stuff’ in the book bag.”
Clayton Police said they found 15-20 prescription pills in a clear plastic bag in the backyard and a box of vacuum sealed freezer bags on the kitchen table.
According to a search warrant, a detective indicated there was suspected evidence of drug activity at the address.
Bridges was released from prison in March after serving time for felony drug convictions in Wake and Harnett counties. In 2012, he received probation for misdemeanor drug offienses. And in 2010 he served two months in jail for a conviction of breaking into motor vehicles and receiving stolen goods in Wake County.
The SBI is assistant Clayton Police with the investigation.
Anyone who has information that can help investigators solve Bridges death, the first homicide in Clayton since 2014, is asked to contact Clayton CrimeStoppers at 919-359-TIPZ (8479), including anyone who saw any activity in the Herndon Drive area on the morning of Saturday, July 2nd. You can remain anonymous – calls are not traced – and you could be eligible for a $5,000 reward. Photos by John Payne
