SWAT officer, suspect shot during search warrant at home on S. 11th Street

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington Police have identified the suspect injured during an officer-involved shooting Wednesday morning.

It happened around 5:45am in the 900 block of S. 11th Street.

Crisis negotiators and the Cape Fear Regional Special Teams SWAT Team went to the home to conduct a search warrant as part of a narcotics investigation.

“The reason we take the crisis negotiators is, we have a very strict adherence to announcing any time we serve a search warrant and that’s mainly what the role is, they’re on the loud speakers of the armored vehicle and they’re announcing our presence in advance,” Chief Donny Williams said.

According to a news release, Wilmington Police deployed a distraction device inside of a window at the home and without warning, the suspect, identified as Malik Samuell Thompson, 27, then began to open fire at the officers.

A round hit a SWAT officer in the vest. Law enforcement returned fire, critically wounding Thompson.

As per protocol, two officers who discharged their weapons are on paid administrative leave. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has been called in to investigate this use of force incident.

Police say at the crime scene, officers located 416 dosage units of Fentanyl, 18.75 grams Cocaine, 76 dosage usage of Xanax, and a gun. Thompson has a prior criminal history to include previous assault and firearms related charges.