A man lunged with a knife three times at deputies who had responded to a domestic violence call Monday morning; he was fatally shot on the third occasion.
The episode began earlier today at 11:33 a.m., when Alamance County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an unwanted guest who was in violation of a 50b Domestic Violence Protection Order and believed by the caller to be using cocaine at the time of the call.
Deputies arrived on scene, in the Carolina community north of Burlington, N.C., at 11:38 a.m., and attempted to talk the subject out of the residence. The subject exited the residence armed with a knife and lunged at a deputy who fired the duty weapon striking the suspect in the left forearm inflicting a non-fatal wound.
The suspect ran and hid behind nearby junk vehicles. Deputies immediately attempted to administer medical aid. But because the suspect was still armed with the knife, deputies could not approach.
A sheriff’s office crisis investigator arrived and began negotiations with the suspect which continued for nearly two hours.
The suspect later requested a cigarette and was given one. As the officer who gave the suspect a cigarette turned to walk away, the suspect lunged with the knife at the officer and was struck by fire from a less than lethal weapon.
As deputies attempted to approach the suspect, he again lunged at deputies with the knife and was fatally shot.
Two deputies are presently on administrative leave while the North Carolina SBI investigates the incident – which is standard protocol in the case of an officer-involved shooting.
According to the sheriff’s office, this case remains under investigation by the SBI and the Alamance County Sheriff’s, and no other information will be released at this time.
