Sheriff: SBI investigating after Pender deputy fatally shoots armed man

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Pender County Sheriff Alan Cutler says a deputy fatally shot an armed man Tuesday morning.

Deputies were attempting to serve a domestic violence protective order when they encountered an armed person in the Canetuck community on NC Highway 210. A shooting took place and the person was fatally struck, the sheriff’s office said.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is currently conducting an investigation per departmental policy. The two deputies involved were not injured and are now on leave, as per protocol any time an officer is involved in a shooting.

The victim’s identity was not released, nor were the identities of the two deputies.

While many questions still remain, District Attorney Ben David says they will share information as soon as they learn more from the SBI as they take the lead on the case.

“Nothing is more serious to us than making sure that force is used in the appropriate circumstance and is reasonable for those circumstances. We know that truth, trust, and transparency are the core of everything we do in a case like this.”

A longtime resident of Canetuck, Ted Brown, says he was shocked to find out what happened in their typically quiet part of town.

“I was sleeping, must’ve been around 9 o’clock, and I heard sirens go by. I just figured it was a fire somewhere. I heard a lot of traffic, but I didn’t pay it much attention. I got up, watched TV, and looked out the door here, and my god,” Brown said.

The district attorney says they will be as transparent as possible as the investigation continues.

“There’s no question that a deadly use of force incident occurred, the question now for the courts will be whether or not that force was reasonable for the circumstances.”