Scotland County, NC – Scotland County Deputy Alexis “Thunder” Eagle Locklear, 24, was killed while responding as backup for another officer involved in a pursuit on Thursday night.

Sheriff Ralph Kersey said that the deputy was responding to the pursuit down Old Wire Road near Arch Mclean Road in Wagram, according to WMBF.

While responding, Deputy Locklear was involved in a single-vehicle collision at around 7:20 p.m. and was killed.

The sheriff said that Deputy Locklear became a full time sworn deputy with the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office on May 16, 2017.

He was assigned to the Patrol Division, Shift C. He graduated from Robeson Community College Basic Law Enforcement Training on May 4, 2017, in Lumberton, North Carolina.

In a Facebook post, Sheriff Kersey said:

“This is an incredibly sad day for the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office, and for the community we love and serve and for the law enforcement community as a whole.

“Deputy Locklear was loved, honored and respected. He brought great joy and pleasure in our hearts and spirits in our time of having him as a brother in this family we like to call home, here at the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office.

“Deputy Locklear will forever be in our hearts and minds. His memory will continue to live on as we continue the good fight that the Lord has called us to.“

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Scotland County Deputy Alexis Locklear, both blood and blue. Godspeed, we will take the watch from here.

Thank you for your service.