Columbus County Sheriff responds to officer-involved shooting being ruled homicide
WHITEVILLE, NC (WWAY) — Columbus County Sheriff Bill Rogers is responding to an officer-involved shooting that happened in May 2024.
Henry Zartman was fatally shot by deputies. Rogers says they found themselves facing a life-or-death decision when Zartman allegedly had a gun. Rogers says the deputies initially deployed a Taser twice to no effect, so they had to use of lethal force.
A recent autopsy ruled the death a homicide.
“When a medical examiner uses that term, it does not mean a crime has been committed or that someone acted unlawfully,” Rogers says in the video posted on Facebook. “It simply means that one person’s actions caused another person’s death. There are only a few official manners of death that a medical examiner can use: Natural; Accidental; Suicide; Homicide; and Undetermined.”
Rogers says homicide is the accurate medical classification – even if the use of force was legally justified.
“This incident, like all deputy involved shootings, is being fully reviewed by SBI and the District Attorney’s Office,” Rogers adds. “We are cooperating completely, and I stand by my deputies’ right to defend themselves when their lives are in danger.”
Rogers full statement is below:
Good evening. I’m Sheriff Bill Rogers with the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office.
In light of the recent wave of media coverage regarding a deputy involved shooting from May of last year. I want to provide clarity, transparency, and make sure my community hears the full story – not just biased details– not just what makes the evening news. Facts matter – but so does how they’re shared. Autopsy findings are just one piece of a larger investigative process. They deserve to be considered carefully in full context, not reduced to headlines.
This situation involves real people, real pain, and real challenges. We never want to lose sight of that. As law enforcement, we are often called into high-risk situations involving individuals in crisis. In this case, my deputies responded to a call in refence to a man armed with a firearm and within moments they found themselves facing a life-or-death decision. Deputies initially deployed a Taser twice, in an effort to de-escalate the threat. Unfortunately, those efforts had no effect. With the threat continuing to escalate, the multiple deputies on scene had to resort to the use of lethal force – each relying on their training, experience, and judgement. Tragically, Henry Zartman died from his injuries. While the number of gunshot wounds has gained media attention, it’s important to understand that in life threatening situations, law enforcement officers use their firearm not out of desire but out of necessity – it is never to injure, instead it is a last resort, used to stop a threat that poses a serious danger to themselves or others.
Media outlets have reported on the autopsy findings following that incident. One point that has caused concern is the classification of the death as a homicide.
I want to clarify what the term homicide means in a medical examiner’s report. When a medical examiner uses that term, it does not mean a crime has been committed or that someone acted unlawfully. It simply means that one person’s actions caused another person’s death.
There are only a few official manners of death that a medical examiner can use:
• Natural
• Accidental
• Suicide
• Homicide
• Undetermined
In cases involving law enforcement, homicide is the accurate medical classification – even if the use of force was legally justified. It’s a clinical term, not a legal judgement. That legal determination comes from the courts or the district attorney’s office, not the medical examiner.
“This incident, like all deputy involved shootings, is being fully reviewed by SBI and the District Attorney’s Office. We are cooperating completely, and I stand by my deputies’ right to defend themselves when their lives are in danger.
At the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office, we take our responsibility to this community seriously. We will always act to protect innocent lives when faced with deadly force. “I understand the concerns this incident raises. I will always do my part to keep you informed, grounded in the facts, and focus on what truly matters – public safety, trust, and the well being of my deputies and everyone we serve.”
“We do not take any loss of life lightly. Behind every name in a report, is a human being – someone’s child, someone’s friend, someone’s neighbor. This incident has left a lasting impact — not only on the Zartman family, but also on the deputies who were forced to respond to this life-threatening situation. The deputies involved are still carrying the burden of that day. I ask for your understanding and compassion for all those affected.”
