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Reward offered in investigation into Camp Hill postal delivery worker's shooting death

U.S. Postal Service highway contract driver Tony Harrelson was shot to death at the Camp Hill Post Office Friday evening.

By Donathan Prater Staff Writer
Published: October 06, 2009

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The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a $100,000 reward for information in the investigation into the shooting death of a Camp Hill postal delivery worker.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department, Camp Hill Police Department and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation are actively investigating the death of Tony Harrelson, a U.S. Postal Service highway contract driver. Harrelson of Dadeville, was shot to death Friday evening at the Camp Hill Post Office between 5:40 and 6:15 p.m.

Due to the ongoing investigation into Harrelson’s murder, several details aren’t being released at this time but investigators have not “ruled out anything as a motive,” U.S. Postal Inspection Service public information officer Tony Robinson said.

According to Title 18, Section 1111 of the United States Code, the person or persons found guilty of the murder of any officer or employee of the Postal Service, may be punished with death or life imprisonment.

USPS officials distributed some 20,000 flyers during the weekend to residents in the Camp Hill area offering the $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for his death.

Robinson said they planned to continue distributing another 20,000 flyers in surrounding areas.

Whomever is responsible for Harrelson’s death may have fled the area, but Robinson said that won’t keep law enforcement from pursuing all who are responsible.

“Running to the next state isn’t going to help,” Robinson said. “We’ll just follow them there too.”

Anyone with information concerning this case is asked to contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service National Law Enforcement Communication Center (NLECC) at 877-876-2455, option 2.

Information can also be called in to the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department at 256-825-4264 or the Secret Witness Hotline at 256-827-2035.

“We don’t want anyone to think that they can commit this kind of offense against a federal employee and get away with it,” said Yulanda Burns, U.S. Postal inspector and public information officer for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “The safety of our employees is our top priority and we’re going to be working on this case until it is solved.”

Bass Funeral Home in Alexander City is handling the Harrelson funeral. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Harrelson’s funeral is set for 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Bass Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Ronnie Jennings will officiate.