Gunfire attack on two Duke Energy substations in North Carolina remains unsolved
EIR-0739Other entries that name Duke
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Provisional entry. Published from first reports. This entry is rechecked automatically and updated when more sources appear. Next update: 17 September 2026.
On 3 December 2022, two Duke Energy electrical substations in Moore County, North Carolina, at West End and Carthage and about ten miles apart, were deliberately damaged by gunfire. The attack damaged multiple pieces of substation equipment and cut power to nearly 45,000 people, with reporting describing an outage lasting about five days. Sheriff's deputies, state investigators and the FBI concluded the attack was targeted and intentional rather than random. Duke Energy brought in specialist crews and equipment to complete the repairs. One death of an elderly resident was reported as the only known death linked to the outage. Three years on, the investigation remains active, a vehicle of interest has been published and a combined reward of up to 100,000 US dollars is offered, but no arrests have been made.
Substation equipment was damaged by firearms fired at two sites; the perpetrators and motive remain unidentified and investigators have not disclosed what specific security gaps were exploited.
- Substations can be vulnerable to deliberate ballistic attack, and operators should review physical security measures such as barriers, lighting, cameras and intrusion detection.
- Utilities should plan for extended restoration times after deliberate physical damage, including support for customers who depend on electricity for medical needs.
- Coordination with law enforcement and legislators can strengthen deterrents, as seen in the later North Carolina law increasing penalties for intentional damage to energy facilities.
Published 2026-09-15. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.