In a tense confrontation outside a Family Dollar in Harmony, Iredell County, a sheriff's deputy shot a man wielding an "edged weapon" yesterday. The Iredell County Sheriff's Office received a call from a concerned family member, prompting the welfare check which led to the incident. Sheriff Darren Campbell stated that the deputy arrived to find the man trying to enter the store with the weapon, as reported by WBTV.
The deputy took action by positioning his patrol vehicle in front of the entrance, a move intended to protect the customers inside. However, when the suspect disregarded commands to drop the weapon, a Taser was utilized but was ineffective. This escalation led to the deputy firing his gun, striking the suspect. The man was transported to Wake Forest Baptist Hospital and is reported to be in stable condition. The deputy involved was unharmed during the exchange, according to information obtained by WCNC.
An independent investigation into the shooting has been initiated by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, which is standard protocol following such incidents. Meanwhile, the deputy has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation. Sheriff Campbell, in a statement secured by QC News, highlighted that deputies are trained for these "split-second decisions in the interest of public safety."
Local residents, unaccustomed to such a heavy police presence in the typically quiet community, expressed their shock. "We never see this many police or sheriff's [deputies] in Harmony," remarked Robin Parks, a witness to the police response. Parks added, "Policeman had to do what he had to do to uphold the law. He just had to do what he had to do," in a sentiment echoed in a statement given to WBTV.
