ROCKINGHAM — The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation has taken over a case involving a man who reportedly took his own life Monday afternoon after running from law enforcement.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle with a Virginia registration plate on U.S. 220 on Monday, May 15.
Although the initial press release issued Tuesday morning does not state the reason for the stop, the sheriff’s office told the RO the driver was allegedly speeding.
When the deputy activated his lights, the driver allegedly refused to stop “and sped away.”
The deputy reportedly stayed behind the vehicle onto U.S. 74 Business in Rockingham, but backed off and cut the lights and siren after the driver allegedly “failed to yield to red lights and other traffic.”
The driver reportedly turned on the emergency four-way flashers and slowed down, with the deputy continuing to follow “behind at a safe distance to see what the issue was.”
According to the sheriff’s office, the driver turned onto a side road, got out of the vehicle and fled on foot.
Other deputies and officers with the Rockingham Police Department reportedly joined the pursuit and began searching the area and K-9 from RPD was used to track the unnamed driver.
A deputy helping to set up the search perimeter reportedly saw a man matching the description of the driver on Walnut Lane.
When the deputy got out of his vehicle and ordered the man to show his hands, the man allegedly began to run, “then turned and produced a gun.”
“The deputy yelled to drop the gun and the male subject at that time, unfortunately inflicted himself with a gunshot wound,” the press release reads. “The male was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
According to the sheriff’s office, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation was contacted and has taken over the investigation.
At least one person standing nearby posted a video to social media, showing the man’s body in the middle of the road, covered in a sheet.
The name of the driver has not been released.
No other information is currently available.
NOTE: This story has been updated. An earlier version of the press release from the sheriff’s office referenced a female passenger. However, the RCSO later said the female appears to be unrelated to the incident in question. 1:20 p.m. 5-16-23
