Arrest made in 2017 Forest City double murder investigation

From our news partners at WCABNews.com

By Annie Dance | WCAB News

A Florida man charged in a 2017 double homicide in Forest City has been extradited to Rutherford County after more than three years.

The Forest City Police Department announced Wednesday that Jose Angelo Gonzalez, 55, of Fort Lauderdale, is now being held without bond at the Rutherford County Detention Center. He faces two counts of murder in the 2017 deaths of Akir Hooper and Stephanie Walker, who were found critically injured at their Arlington Street home on May 18, 2017. Hooper died at the scene; Walker later died at a hospital.

The case began when a passerby found two children outside the home and called police. Officers discovered the crime scene, sparking a five-year investigation involving interviews with family, neighbors, and associates, as well as forensic evidence and assistance from state and federal agencies.

In March 2022, Forest City police announced Gonzalez’s arrest in Broward County, Fla. A court record obtained by WCAB News shows he signed a waiver of extradition on March 9, 2022, but it remains unclear why his transfer to North Carolina took more than three years.

Full statement from Forest City Police (Sept. 24, 2025):

“On Wednesday, September 24, 2025, the Forest City Police Department, with the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), arrested and extradited the suspect in a double homicide that occurred on May 18, 2017.

Jose Angelo Gonzales (sic), 55, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been formally charged with the homicides of Akir Hooper and Stephanie Walker. Following extradition, Gonzales is being held without bond at the Rutherford County Detention Center.

The arrest is the result of an exhaustive, years-long investigation led by the Forest City Police Department, with vital assistance from the NC State Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Broward County (FL) Sheriff’s Office, the Sunshine Police Department (FL), and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office.

This arrest demonstrates the persistence and dedication of our officers and partner agencies who worked tirelessly to ensure justice for the victims and their families. The Forest City Police Department is grateful for the cooperation and resources provided by our state, federal, and local law enforcement partners.

The Forest City Police Department remains committed to pursuing justice for victims of violent crime, no matter how much time has passed. The investigation is still ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Forest City Police Department at (828)-245-5555. Information can also be submitted by means of the Forest City Police Department’s mobile app.”

WCAB News, Rutherford County. For more news out of Rutherford County, visit WCABNews.com.

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