Officer injured, suspect dead, police say

PINEVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – An officer suffered injuries when fatal shots were fired at at least one suspect in Pineville on Tuesday, authorities confirm to Queen City News.

According to the Pineville Police Department, the officer-involved shooting occurred Tuesday, May 14, at an apartment complex in the 10100 block of Johnston Road after receiving a 911 call about an ongoing shoplifting at a nearby Food Lion around 3 p.m .

An off-duty uniformed police sergeant found the suspect in the store and encountered “significant resistance,” according to authorities. The two got into an argument that led to a chase to the nearby apartment complex.

Witnesses said they heard about five gunshots.

“I immediately jumped up and looked, I didn’t see any of the action,” Sarah Long, who lives near where the shooting occurred, told Queen City News. “Within a minute or two there were already cop cars swarming.”

According to officials, a second physical altercation occurred between the two at the apartment complex, during which the sergeant fired his weapon at the suspect, killing him.

The police sergeant was injured but not shot in the incident.

“The training emphasizes that they are sworn police officers at all times despite having a part-time job,” said former Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer and attorney Walter Bowers.

Bowers told Queen City News that when a business policy conflicts with her police duty, police duties come first.

“Please keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers,” Capt. Corey Copley said during a news conference at Food Lion.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police will be taking over the homicide investigation since they were not involved in the initial call.