Holly MatkinWarrenton, NC – Warren County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) Deputy Jose Angel De Leon died in the line of duty on Dec. 4 after his patrol car crashed while he was responding to a domestic violence incident.
The 30-year-old deputy was traveling down U.S. 401 on Dec. 4 on his way to an emergency call involving a firearm when his patrol car collided with a deer, North Carolina Highway Patrol (NCHP) First Sergeant Christopher Knox told The Daily Dispatch.
Deputy De Leon’s vehicle went off of the roadway, then collided with a tree and caught on fire, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
The WCSO 911 Center received a report of the crash at 6 p.m., The Daily Dispatch reported.
First responders arrived to the scene to find Deputy De Leon still inside the burning patrol car.
They attempted to pull him from the wreckage, but Deputy De Leon succumbed to his injuries at the scene, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
“Our hearts are with the loved ones of Warren County Sheriff’s Deputy Jose DeLeon who was killed in a car crash while in the line of duty over the weekend,” North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper tweeted on Tuesday. “We’re grateful for his life and for officers who risk their lives everyday to keep us safe.”
Deputy De Leon served the WCSO for nearly two years, The Daily Dispatch reported.
“He will be surely missed, and we ask that you keep his family, friends and coworkers in your thoughts and prayers,” the WCSO said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
Deputy De Leon leaves behind his girlfriend, Anna, and his son, “AJ,” according to his obituary.
He is also survived by his parents, sister, two brothers, niece, grandmother, and a large extended family.
Deputy De Leon will be laid to rest on Dec. 12.
RIP. North Carolina Deputy Sheriff José Angel DeLeon was killed in a vehicle crash while responding to a domestic violence call. He is survived by his son. #rip #hero #eow #DeputySheriffJoséAngelDeLeon #WarrenCountySheriffsOffice #thinblueline #bluelivesmatter pic.twitter.com/yRrxVZJzk0
— Protecting the Blue (@protectingblue) December 7, 2022
🔹 Blessed Are The Peacemakers 🔹
Deputy Sheriff José Angel DeLeon
Warren County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina
EOW: Sunday, December 4, 2022#EnoughIsEnough #OfficerDown #EOW #ThinBlueLine pic.twitter.com/s9WiLX8wEd
— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) December 7, 2022
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Warren County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jose Angel De Leon, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
