Holly MatkinDenton, NC – A gunman shot a veteran Davidson County sheriff’s deputy and a civilian on Wednesday night, leading to a lengthy armed standoff that ended with the suspect being mortally wounded.
The incident began at approximately 9:08 p.m. on May 31, when Davidson County Emergency Communications received a 911 call about a shooting at a home in Denton, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) said in a press release on Thursday.
First` responders were on their way to the scene when they were advised a gunman had fired into a house, striking someone inside, according to the DCSO.
Deputies arrived at the home and were taking up positions outside when they suddenly came under fire.
A member of the Davidson County Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT) was wounded in the attack, the sheriff’s office confirmed.
The injured deputy was airlifted to a local hospital as law enforcement officers from multiple agencies flooded the area to assist in apprehending the shooter, according to investigators.
The SBI is investigating a shooting that left 3 people injured in Davidson County Wednesday night, near M H Dr. A Davidson County deputy, a male victim, and the suspect were shot. Officials say shots were fired from outside and into a house window.. No threat to the public. pic.twitter.com/pznY58L5mX
— Louie Tran (@louie_tran) June 1, 2023
“The suspect continued to fire multiple shots at officers as he attempted to elude officers by changing locations several times throughout the night,” the DCSO said.
The Denton Fire Department issued an alert on Facebook telling citizens in the area of M H Drive and Ebel Road to shelter in place and to secure all windows and doors due to a “very active situation.”
Davidson County Sheriff Richie Simmons said the gunman fired approximately 200 rounds at law enforcement during the incident, causing tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to police equipment, WGHP reported.
“Emergency services had their drone, which is worth approximately $18,000,” Sheriff Simmons said. “He shot that from the sky and also shot down the Davidson County drone. This guy was purposefully trying to destroy everything we had.”
The DCSI said the gunman was “fatally wounded” after “several hours of continued negotiations and containment.”
The suspect’s identity was not immediately released.
The wounded deputy and the civilian who was shot prior to deputies’ arrival at the residence were both treated for their wounds at the hospital, according to the DCSO.
Thomasville SWAT leaving the scene at M H Drive. pic.twitter.com/Xp9lE5F8P2
— Louie Tran (@louie_tran) June 1, 2023
The deputy had been shot in the leg and was recovering at home on Thursday, WGHP reported.
Denton Mayor Larry Ward told Spectrum News he met the shooter on Wednesday morning while working his part-time job at a gun store.
Ward said the man told him he was suffering from leukemia and that he was going to die soon.
“He bought two boxes of bullets for an AR black gun,” the mayor told Spectrum News. “He was very talkative. His wife did not say a word. I spoke to her, said good morning to her. She was like three feet away and did not answer, didn’t say a word. They were a little strange acting.”
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) is handling the ongoing investigation into the fatal officer-involved shooting.
