Belmont, NC – A Mount Holly police officer was murdered in the line of duty during a shootout with an armed burglary suspect early on Friday morning.
“The Mount Holly Police Officer who was injured during the incident has succumbed to the injuries he sustained,” the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) confirmed in a tweet. “His name is temporarily withheld to ensure appropriate family notifications are made.”
The incident began at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 11 when Mount Holly officers were dispatched to a report of a burglary-in-progress at a business located at 313 Beatty Drive, the Mount Holly Police Department (MHPD) said in a Facebook post.
“When officers arrived, they encountered an armed subject,” the MHPD said. “During the encounter, several shots were fired between the subject and several Mount Holly police officers in addition to a Gaston County police officer, who responded to the incident.”
One of the MHPD officers was hit by gunfire during the shootout.
He was rushed to Caromont Main hospital with “serious injuries,” according to the department.
The suspect suffered a “minor” gunshot wound during the encounter, the MHPD said.
He was transported to the hospital for treatment, and was subsequently released and booked into the Gaston County Jail.
The identities of the suspect and the fallen officer have not been released.
However, WSOC has identified the suspect as 24-year-old Joshua Tyler Funk and said the station had confirmed that information with the magistrate’s office.
#BREAKING Joshua Tyler Funk has been charged with first degree murder in connection to death of the Mount Holly officer who was shot at the Mount Holly Car Wash this morning. @wcnc https://t.co/S9Wi1ZlYlG pic.twitter.com/SRYW8lPEV5
— Billie Jean Shaw (@BillieJeanTV) December 11, 2020
The MHPD Internal Affairs Bureau will conduct a “separate but parallel investigation” to determine whether or not police followed department procedures and policies during the incident, the department said.
The North Carolina Bureau of Investigation is handling the ongoing investigation into the officer-involved shooting, according to the CMPD.
The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is conducting the shooting investigation. CMPD will update as additional information develops. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all involved. https://t.co/miYXV4PIjs
— CMPD News (@CMPD) December 11, 2020
The men and women of the Carolina Brotherhood Ride hold the @MtHollyNCPD (Gaston County,NC) close to our hearts this morning, following an Officer LODD. #RestEasy #CBH20 #NeverForget #LODD #Brotherhood #MountHollyPoliceDepartment pic.twitter.com/UldncYeVsg
— Carolina Brotherhood (@CarolinaBhood) December 11, 2020
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Mount Holly Police Officer's family and the entire Mount Holly Police Department family as they mourn the tragic loss of an officer this morning.
— Cornelius Police Department (@CorneliusPD) December 11, 2020
#BREAKING: The police officer who was shot this morning responding to a B&E in Mount Holly has died, according to @CMPD.
"We ask that you keep everyone involved in your thoughts and prayers."
Follow @mwhittingtontv
and @VanessaLeonTV for updates @SpecNews1CLT #CLT pic.twitter.com/d5IzArJ33w— Mark Davenport (@TheDavenReport) December 11, 2020
Please pray for the Mount Holly Police Department! Please let them know that we’re in this together. We lift them up when they need us…like right now. We love them and we appreciate the fact that all law enforcement takes care of our families 24/7,365!
— Julie Ann Roper (@JulieAnnRoper1) December 11, 2020
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