Maxton man sentenced to 45 years for shooting deputies
NEW BERN, NC (WWAY) — A federal judge sentenced a Maxton man to 45 years in prison for multiple crimes.
The United States Attorney Eastern District of North Carolina’s office says, when Shawn Locklear Jr. was 20 years old, he shot two Robeson County Sheriff’s Deputies and tried to run them over with their own patrol car.
Locklear has a history of committing violent crimes. In March of 2022, a judge released Locklear after he was arrested for armed robbery while using a gun. In November of 2022, Locklear roamed free on bond and was arrested by the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office for murder and robbery charges. In May of 2023, Locklear was released again from a state court judge while he awaited trial. In September of 2023, Locklear allegedly choked his sister because he accused her of stealing on of his guns. When she called police, he cut of his ankle monitor and left. During the investigation, officers found marijuana, cocaine, crack, and guns, including machine guns from Locklear’s car.
On November 7, 2023, Robeson County Sheriff Deputies found Locklear and attempted to arrest him. Locklear ran into the woods where the deputies body cam footage showed him hiding behind a tree. Locklear was asked to show his hands, and he pulled out a gun shooting the deputies in the legs and gut. The deputies crawled behind their patrol car and reloaded. Locklear then got into the driver’s seat of the patrol car and ran over one deputy. Locklear was shot by the deputies.
The press release goes on to say, the deputies called for an ambulance and Locklear intercepted the ambulance and took it for himself and went to the hospital. Other Robeson County deputies responded and assisted the wounded deputies by taking them to the hospital. Locklear was arrested in the hospital.
“Today’s sentence brings accountability for a violent and deliberate attack on law enforcement. By the grace of God, the two deputies who were shot and ran over with a stolen patrol car survived, and we remain deeply grateful for their courage, resilience, and recovery. This outcome sends a
clear message that violence against those who serve and protect our communities daily will not be tolerated, and those responsible will be held fully accountable,” said Sheriff Burnis Wilkins.
“The safety of our communities is strongly supported by the brave men and women in law enforcement,” said Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “An attack on an officer is an attack on the community, and ATF will continue to deliver every resource we can to prevent this type of violence against our law enforcement partners.”
