‘Shocked and grieving’: Restaurant owners found dead in apparent murder-suicide at Johnston County home, deputies say

FOUR OAKS, N.C. (WNCN) — An investigation is underway after a husband and wife were found dead Wednesday evening in what deputies said was a murder-suicide.

According to the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, deputies conducted a welfare check at a home on Grants Way off of Lassiter Road.

Deputies said they found 49-year-old Hector Meraz and his wife 47-year-old Norma Merales inside the living quarters of a shed located behind the house.

Deputies said they determined through their investigation that Meraz fatally shot Merales before turning the gun on himself.

Deputies said the Four Oaks couple were owners of at least two Mexican restaurants in the area, including El Charro Grande in Dunn, and were well-known in the local business community.

“Their sudden deaths have left friends, customers and neighbors shocked and grieving,” deputies said.

Two of their restaurants, El Charro Grande 1 in Dunn and El Charro Grande 2 in Newton Grove, released a statement regarding the owners’ passing. It read:

Due to family loss,

We will be closed Friday September 12 to Sunday September 14.

We will operate back on Monday September 15 on normal business hours.

Within a couple days we will have information about the service and burial time and place will be provided. We appreciate all our beloved clients, your prayers and support in these hard times.

Debido a la pérdida de un familiar,

Estaremos cerrados del viernes 12 de septiembre al domingo 14 de septiembre.

Reanudaremos nuestras operaciones el lunes 15 de septiembre en nuestro horario habitual.

En un par de días tendremos información sobre el servicio y se les informará la hora y el lugar del entierro. Agradecemos a todos nuestros queridos clientes, sus oraciones y apoyo en estos momentos difíciles.

Deputies said the case remains under investigation. The circumstances leading to their deaths are unknown at this time.