ROCKINGHAM — An deputy-involved shooting has resulted in the death of one person, according to a release from Richmond County Sheriff Mark B. Gulledge.
The Sheriff’s Office states on the morning of Nov. 18, Richmond County Emergency Communications Center received a call from a concerned resident regarding a domestic situation occurring in Lee County, along with information about outstanding warrants for the individual involved, which led RCSO deputies to the individual’s address in Richmond County.
“When deputies arrived at the designated address, they were unable to contact anyone,” the release states. “As they were leaving, they encountered the individual on a private road leading to the home.”
RCSO officials said the suspect eventually stopped his truck in his driveway, backed up, and rammed his vehicle into one of the deputies’ patrol vehicle, damaging it.
“He drove off but then rammed the deputy’s vehicle a second time during the encounter, rendering it inoperable,” officials said. “During the incident, the suspect attempted to run over the deputies, prompting them to engage in gunfire in defense of their lives.”
The suspect died at the scene, officials said. As of press time, his identity had not been released.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating the incident, RCSO officials said. The Sheriff’s Office confirmed two deputies involved have been placed on administrative leave in accordance with RCSO policy “to ensure the professionalism and integrity of the investigation.”
The Sheriff’s office reported one deputy was injured during the incident, but has since been treated and released from the hospital.
“The investigation is ongoing and we are committed to providing additional information as it becomes available to keep you informed and updated,” Gulledge said.