The reward fund in the Steve Toms' homicide has hit its goal: $25,000 for the tip that leads to whoever killed the Gold and Silver Trading Center manager on Nov. 15.

Tipsters may call Crime Stoppers at 706-653-3188 or the Columbus Police Department’s investigative bureau at 706-653-3400.

Allen Woodall, who's chairing the fundraising drive to increase the reward, said Friday that it reached the immediate goal he set of 25 grand, an amount he felt sufficient to draw out even reluctant informants who might be related or otherwise intimate with Toms' killer.

Bob Upchurch, who owns the Gentian Corners jewelry store, found the 63-year-old store manager shot to death there the morning of Nov. 16.

Upchurch arrived at the 3717 Gentian Blvd. business about 8:45 a.m. and found Toms on the floor with a loaded, cocked gun beside him. His weapon apparently had not been fired. Toms had been shot multiple times, police said.

Upchurch said an empty cash tray was on the counter and some gold chains were missing. He suspected the robbery and homicide happened the previous evening. Toms had spoken by phone to a relative at 5:33 p.m., and typically the manager would have removed jewelry from a display case and put it in a safe about 15 minutes before the shop closed at 6 p.m.

That jewelry was still out the morning Upchurch found Toms’ body.

Security cameras in the store were not working.