Katherine seemed to be distraught prior to her meeting with Carnell. I think why she was distraught is the missing piece of the puzzle.
Since both local LE and the FBI have determined this wasn't a random act of violence, I believe they have much more information that they've never released publicly. I bet that they know why Katherine was so upset that day. I think it's likely Katherine was dealing with something major, and had met with Carnell to discuss it.
I think it's possible that Katherine was followed to the location, and was maybe even under surveillance by someone(s). I wonder if she owed somebody money, had reported a criminal act or witnessed something she shouldn't have, or was set up for reasons unknown. I think Carnell was likely killed in order to eliminate him as a witness. JMO. The killer may not have even known that Katherine was going there to meet Carnell. How would they have known that detail?
In my opinion, the killer felt a sense of urgency, then, because killing two people instead of one brings a whole other set of possible problems. Whoever did this clearly doesn't place much value on human life. For some people, murder is just a part of the criminal lifestyle. Could this have been a stone cold killer, who was proficient in executing hits? Did Katherine hold information they wanted to make sure never saw the light of day? When they saw Katherine with Carnell, engaged in conversation, did they feel like they had no choice but to put their plans into action?
Shooting somebody execution style, IMO, is a more detached murder method. There was no overkill. Just a shot to their heads as they're speaking. As if the killer's primary motivation was making sure the victims were silenced. It reminds me of a targeted shooting where a hit man gets out of his vehicle or off his motorcycle, walks up to the target (whose caught off guard) and shoots. Once their mission is complete, they get the hell out and fade back into the underground.
Was something urgent happening in Katherine's life? Could she have been asking Carnell for something, such as a loan? I know that people often prefer to discuss financial matters in person. Was the matter she wanted to discuss with Carnell so sensitive that she feared disclosing too much information over text, or on the phone? What did the victims have, if not material items, that would've made them a target?
The big question is, what was the motive? I don't know the area enough to theorize if this was a botched robbery attempt. Based on the photos, it doesn't appear to be a place for criminals to lurk about, but crime can occur anywhere, at anytime. Typically, when a victim is shot and killed during an armed robbery, it's because the victim can identify the robber, or tried resisting, or fought back. In any case, the robber doesn't usually leave money and valuables behind. It takes less than thirty seconds to reach into somebody's pocket and retrieve a wallet.
If this was an obsessed boyfriend or ex-boyfriend - or even a love interest of Carnell's - I think that LE would've been able to determine that early on. The shooting was brazen. This murder was completed so covertly, in such a short amount of time, that it makes me think it was planned, or committed by somebody with confidence in their criminal abilities. Did the killer(s) feel like they had no choice but to act fast and get it over with? Even if that meant somebody would be "collateral damage"?
My speculation is all JMO and based on the theory of Katherine being the primary target. Of course, it's all just me thinking and trying to come up with a possible motive. I really do think this crime has the potential to be solved, hopefully it's soon.
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