make WWAY your homepage  Become a fan on facebook  Follow us on twitter  Receive RSS Newsfeeds  MEMBERS: Register | Login

Bladen County standoff has deadly end

The standoff started at mid-morning off Center Road near Butler Mill Road. The sheriff says an agitated 63-year-old Thomas Adams ran his wife out of the house. She ran to a neighbor's house and called police while he holed up inside with at least one gun.

Disclaimer: Comments posted on this, or any story are opinions of those people posting them, and not the views or opinions of WWAY NewsChannel 3, its management or employees.

»

Uncle

Submitted by MLP (not verified) on Fri, 02/29/2008 - 1:30am.
Uncle Tommy we enjoyed the years we spent with you. I will never forget when I was a little girl, you dressing up as Santa Claus on christmas eve, I knew it was you. That laugh could not be mistaken for anyone else. "WE LOVE YOU AND WILL MISS YOU" Everyone else's negative comments are insignificant.
»

If he wanted to kill someone he would have

Submitted by He was my uncle (JL) (not verified) on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 10:31pm.
I think if Tommy would have wanted to kill someone he would have. Why take him down? Why didn't the train police shot him somewhere else instead of the chest or why didn't they use tear gas? It said they waited 5 hours, well whats another 5 hours to save someones life. Why didn't they back off and give him time to cool down? His wife called for them to help him, not to surround the perimeter and treat like a criminal. My deepest sympathy goes out for the family. RIP Tommy Adams
»

It seem's to me "top cop"

Submitted by I HOPE YOUR PROUD (not verified) on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 11:48pm.
It seem's to me "top cop" you could have let MR. Ludlum stay with him a little longer. What could it have hurt.Maybe it would have turned out different.Maybe he could have got the help that he needed, we'll never know will we.You not only ended his life but ruined his whole family .Not to mention his wife's home that was shot to piece's, which he was not even in at the time, make's a lot a sense.With all the technology you hear about,rubber bullet's, bean bag's, tear gas you still had to shoot him not once but multiple time's.I bet if he had been a celebrity instead of tommy from bladenboro he would have got a limo an a key to the city.
»

Top Cop

Submitted by Wife of a cop (not verified) on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 9:18pm.
Dear Concerned citizen You seem to be very quick to judge how those in intense situations should have acted. In the heat of the moment you have a split second to make a life or death decision, you and those like you have the next 20 years to say "what should have been done", or "what I would have done." My husband goes to work every day, he expects to come home every evening just like you. If 5 hours of "time" was not enough for this man to surrender then I'm sorry, the truth is he was mentally "sick," if the family knew this and did nothing then they are also to blame. If I were given the choice from God as to who came home that night I would chose my husband because he did no wrong in doing his job. But as most citizens you and others can only talk bad about our officers till the day you have need of them. Please do not forget the officers are people too and none of them feel great about the outcome of this tragic event.
»

AMEN.

Submitted by LEO FAMILY (not verified) on Thu, 02/28/2008 - 10:56am.
AMEN.
»

Dear,wife of cop, you also

Submitted by top cop (not verified) on Wed, 02/27/2008 - 10:36pm.
Dear,wife of cop, you also are quick to judge. Unlike your husband, Mr Adams does not have 20 years left. Most citizens would not call officers if this was going to be the end result. Such as in the case of peyton strickland, who was shot thru a door. The family was just awarded 2.45 million dollars due to the hands of a so called professional. Watch the news, not only Mr Adams but numerous citizens, that die at the hands of law officers, due to poor judgement and little experience. I also am glad that your husband came home safe, I wish death on no one. If god forbid somthing did happen to him, would you still fill the same?
»

Please forgive me if I

Submitted by Wife of Cop (not verified) on Thu, 02/28/2008 - 7:46pm.
Please forgive me if I sounded quick to judge. I wish death to no one. I wished the public would understand that the cops are people too. They make mistakes just like everyone else. But, how many times do you go to work and have someone fire bullets at you and you sit back and not react. I for one would not be able to say what I would have done faced with that situation. The man did not deserve to die, but lets say police had let the family in to talk with him alone and they were hurt then who would you blame, the cops for letting them go into a hostal enviroment and getting hurt. I guess I have a strong faith and know that you are not taken one minute from this earth before the Father in Heaven calls you. In that I have peace and I wish peace for the family of this tragedy.
»

Not enough time for Tommy Adams

Submitted by Currie Long jr. (not verified) on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 8:02pm.
Tommy Adams was a simple man . He stayed at his home for most of his life. Tommy Adams has never killed anyone , never raped anyone , never stole anything from anyone , never broke the law in anyway shape or form . If you would have known Tommy as long as I have you would understand why he didn't want to leave his home . He felt like he had done no wrong . My uncle had a disagreement with his wife as all married couples have from time to time , but it will pass with time . Then there will be happy times again . He wasn't given enough time for the happy times to come back again .He should have been given more time to be happy again .
»

tell his story

Submitted by bonnie (not verified) on Thu, 10/13/2011 - 6:04pm.

When i learned of this story through his son, i was highly disturbed and heartbroken for his family. I am writing my thesis paper about him in college. I do not think this injustice will ever leave my heart or head.

»