Man dead after shooting involving Brunswick deputy

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A Brunswick County Sheriff’s deputy is under investigation after investigators say he shot and killed an armed man Friday night.

According to a statement from the Sheriff’s Office, about 7:30 p.m. Friday, deputies responded to 668 Bayshore Drive in Sunset Harbor, where a man was firing a gun in his garage. When the deputies arrived they were confronted by William Gordon Brown, 73, who investigators say pointed a loaded handgun at them. The deputies tried to use a Tazer, but it had no effect.

At that time, the Sheriff’s Office says, Brown again pointed his handgun at the deputies. Dep. Joe Genda fired two shots striking Brown, who was pronounced dead at Brunswick Community Hospital.

Neighbor Chris Anselmo said he didn’t know Brown well, but said he was always kind to his children.

“I’ve been here for ten years, and nothing like this has ever happened before,” Anselmo said. “It doesn’t make me feel like it’s an unsafe neighborhood. It seems to have been obviously an isolated incident, so I’m not really worried about security or safety or anything like that, but I do feel bad that it’s happened.”

Sheriff John Ingram and Brunswick County District Attorney Jon David have requested the State Bureau of Investigation conduct an officer-involved shooting investigation.

Dep. Genda is on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.