By Sandy Malone and Christopher Berg
Boone, NC – Two Watauga County sheriff’s deputies were shot while conducting a welfare check on Wednesday afternoon and the barricaded gunman has continued shooting at law enforcement officers.
One of the deputies has succumbed to his injuries while the second deputy remains trapped in the house with the gunman, in unknown condition, according to Fox News.
The incident occurred when deputies went to check on a family at a home on Hardaman Circle in Boone after the homeowner and other residents didn’t show up at work and didn’t answer the phone, WBTV reported.
Authorities said that as soon as the deputies entered the home, somebody inside began shooting at them, and shot two of the deputies.
Two helicopters arrived on the scene quickly to transport the deputies to a trauma center but only one of the deputies was airlifted out as the other remained trapped inside.
Please keep the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office in your thoughts and prayers. One deputy has been killed and a second deputy is still trapped and condition unknown.#officerdown #neverforgetthefallen #EOW #Watauga #Boone #northcarolina pic.twitter.com/GU9K3NVxaD
— Oakboro Police Dept. (@Oakboropolicenc) April 29, 2021
Two Watauga deputies have been shot while conducting a welfare check at a home in #Boone. One was flown to Johnson City Medical Center. The other remains on scene. The shooter remains active. @AshleyDaley is there gathering the latest info. @wcnc
— Vanessa Ruffes (@VanessaRuffes) April 28, 2021
Authorities confirm two watauga deputies were shot at a home along Browns Chapel Rd. Two medical helicopters called in. One flew a deputy out..the second never left. No official word on conditions. And no details as to what happened. “Still a fluid scene” said one official.
— Steve Ohnesorge WBTV (@WBTVSteveO) April 28, 2021
The sheriff’s department said the gunman had barricaded himself inside the home and continues to take shots at deputies outside, WBTV reported.
A hard day out here in watauga. Two deputies have been shot after responding to a home for a welfare check @SpecNews1CLT pic.twitter.com/iEzuXSG4NX
— Rose Eiklor (@Rose_Eiklor) April 28, 2021
Deputies have evacuated people from the homes nearby and other area residents have been told to shelter in place.
Pray for Watauga County today. #wataugastrong pic.twitter.com/lIghICtsE6
— Rose Eiklor (@Rose_Eiklor) April 28, 2021
JUST IN – statement on shooting and standoff in #Watauga County. Two deputies shot #MyFOX8 pic.twitter.com/ZUwhcWGRvr
— Lori Denberg (@LDENBERG) April 28, 2021
DEVELOPING: Two Watauga Co. Sheriff’s deputies were hit by gunfire during a welfare check at a home in Boone just before 10am. @myfox8 pic.twitter.com/hh4VZjSnT7
— Allison Smith (@AllisonSmithTV) April 28, 2021
This is a developing story and we will keep you updated. For all of our updates, follow us on Facebook and go to your news feed preferences under your settings, then select that you want to see more of The Police Tribune’s posts in your news feed. Otherwise, Facebook may not show you updates.
Holly Matkin
Sandy Malone