John Luke Moore

Gastonia, NC (July 2026) – Five years after Johnny Lee Franklin Moore, a beloved son, brother, and friend known affectionately as “John Luke,” was killed in his home, his family and law enforcement are renewing their pursuit of truth. In hopes of bringing fresh attention to the active investigation and uncovering critical new leads, a dedicated billboard campaign is launching this week in Gastonia, North Carolina.

On July 26, 2021, John Luke’s life was tragically taken when he was murdered inside his residence on Allison Avenue. A young man deeply connected to the Gastonia community, John Luke was an aspiring barber who loved building relationships, listening to people, and left a lasting impression on everyone who sat in his chair. Five years later, his case remains an open and unsolved homicide.

Sponsored by Season of Justice, in partnership with Adams Outdoor Advertising, two billboards are being strategically placed at two ends of the community that helped raise John Luke and where he pursued his dreams. The billboards will be displayed from July 13 through August 23, intentionally encompassing two deeply significant dates for the family: the fifth anniversary of his murder on July 26, and what would have been his 38th birthday on August 22.

The billboards are scheduled for installation on Monday, July 13, at the following locations:

• 1350 East Gaston Avenue
• 1008 Union Road

The initiative represents a collaborative effort alongside the Gastonia Police Department, led by Detective Heather Houser, with continued support from the Gaston County District Attorney’s Office under District Attorney Travis Page. The reward for information has also been increased by $25,000 thanks to state support from Governor Josh Stein.

There is a $35,000 reward for information that helps bring answers and justice in John Luke’s case.

Law enforcement and the family urge anyone who may have any knowledge regarding the 2021 homicide to come forward. Investigators believe someone in the community knows something, or may have seen, heard, or learned something in the years since the crime took place. No detail is too small, and silence protects no one. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Gastonia Police Department or CrimeStoppers of Gaston Co. at (704) 861-8000.