Hickory Police investigate death case

Hickory Police Investigators are investigating a death case after a man was pronounced deceased from a gunshot wound by medical personnel Wednesday night.

At approximately 8:10 p.m., officers with the Hickory Police Department responded to a medical emergency in the parking lot of King Hickory Furniture located at 1028 15th Street Drive Northeast.

When officers arrived, emergency medical personnel were administering life-saving measures to Luis Alonso Torres, 40, of Hickory. Torres was pronounced deceased by the responding emergency medical personnel. He suffered from an apparent gunshot wound to his torso.

After gathering witness statements, officers were able to determine that Torres was in an altercation with an adult male who was identified as Joe Angel Rangel, 32, of Conover.

Investigating officers located Rangel in the nearby vicinity and took him into custody, charging him with Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and Resisting a Public Officer.

The Hickory Police Department is still conducting an ongoing investigation into the initial altercation between Torres and Rangel.

Anyone with information that would aid with this investigation is encouraged to contact Hickory Police Department Investigator A. Callicut at 828-261-2623.