ROCKINGHAM — Two deputies with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office are on administrative leave after reportedly killing a suspect who tried to run them over.
According to the sheriff’s office, the Richmond County Emergency Communications Center received a phone call Tuesday morning regarding a domestic situation in Lee County.
The caller reportedly gave information regarding the suspect’s outstanding warrants, which led deputies to the suspect’s home in the Marston area.
Deputies were reportedly unable to make contact with anyone at the address. However, as they were leaving, they reportedly encountered the suspect on a private road leading to the home around 8 a.m.
According to the sheriff’s office, the suspect stopped his truck in his driveway, backed up and rammed one of the patrol cars. The suspect allegedly drove off, but rammed the patrol car a second time, “rendering it inoperable.”
The suspect allegedly attempted to run over the deputies, “prompting them to engage in gunfire in defense of their lives.”
According to the sheriff’s office, the suspect died at the scene from his injuries. One of the deputies was reportedly injured but has since been treated and released from a hospital.
The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation has been called in to investigate the incident.
The suspect’s name is being withheld until family can be notified.
The names of the deputies involved are also currently being withheld. They are both on administrative leave “ to ensure the professionalism and integrity of the investigation,” according to the sheriff's office.
The RO will have more information as it becomes available.
This is the second officer-involved shooting by the sheriff’s office this year.
