Suspect captured after shooting Columbus County Deputy and initiating multiple-agency manhunt

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) —  The suspect accused of shooting a Columbus County sheriff’s deputy after a traffic stop Wednesday morning has been arrested following an all-day manhunt, according to the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

William Robert Smith Jr., 48, was arrested on a charge of attempted first-degree murder and other charges. He is currently in custody and will be transported for medical treatment, authorities said.

The incident began around 8 a.m. Wednesday when a Columbus County sheriff’s deputy attempted to stop a vehicle. The driver fled in the vehicle before getting out and running on foot.

The deputy later encountered the suspect, leading to an altercation. The deputy was shot and the suspect fled again, according to authorities.

The deputy was taken to a hospital and was previously reported to be in stable condition.

Multiple local, state and federal agencies assisted the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office and SBI during the manhunt, including the North Carolina Highway Patrol, FBI, U.S. Marshals and sheriff’s offices from surrounding counties.

The investigation remains ongoing.