DA: Deputies will not face charges in deadly Bozeman Road shooting

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County District Attorney has announced no one will face charges in a deadly shooting that stemmed from a hostage situation involving a 9-year-old child.

On November 16, two members of the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team fired into a camper on Bozeman Road, shooting and killing Henry Timberlake Duncan, 43.

Duncan was inside the camper with a 9-year-old girl, holding a knife to her throat and threatening to kill her, according to District Attorney Ben David.

Duncan, a registered sex offender from West Virginia, was living in the camper on the property under a fake name, which is how the landlord did not know he was a sex offender.

Henry Duncan (Photo: District Attorney’s Office)

According to a 911 call from the alleged grandmother of the child, Duncan took the child  and was threatening to harm her. Duncan was holding a knife to the child’s throat.

Prior to taking the girl, Duncan shot Dwayne Derone White, 47,  in the face. White was in a van in the yard.

While Duncan was in the camper with the child, ERT members tried to speak with him 40 minutes. Around 10:00 p.m., Duncan started counting down from five, saying he would ‘hurt the child’ at the end.

When Duncan’s countdown reached one, two members of the ERT fired. Duncan died at the scene.

The child had been injured by Duncan and needed multiple surgeries at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

“I am convinced a little 9-year-old’s life was saved,” Sheriff Ed McMahon said.

White, Duncan’s other victim, had life-threatening injuries.

The district attorney said whenever officers use deadly force to help others, they need to have reason. In this case they did.

“The deputies responding had no choice but to shoot. These deputies took a life, but saved other lives in the process. They should be commended for their actions and should be permitted to return to work,” David said.