Hickory Police investigate homicide case

Hickory Police are investigating a homicide that occurred at Deluxe Inn on U.S. 70 SW on Wednesday, Aug. 9.

Hickory Police Officers were called to Deluxe Inn and arrived at 7:41 a.m. and located two men in room 203. James Anthony Russell, 54, was found unconscious. Catawba County EMS was called to the scene and determined Russell to be deceased.

The caller, Brandon Keith Lovelace, 41, was still on scene when officers arrived. Investigators determined Russell and Lovelace had been in a confrontation prior to officers arriving.

Lovelace suffered injuries from the confrontation and was transported by EMS to a local hospital where he was released the same day.

No charges have been filed as of Aug. 10. Anyone with information regarding this on-going investigation is encouraged to call the Hickory Police Department at 828-328-5551 or contact Inv. R. Helderman directly at 828-261-2621 or rhelderman@hickorync.gov.