A tense hostage situation on Pittsboro Goldston Road came to an end when deputies stormed a residence and rescued the captive individual. The Chatham County Sheriff's Office detailed in a social media post, revealing that the standoff began yesterday afternoon and resulted in the unfortunate death of the suspect, who authorities have since identified as 50-year-old Kevin Dean Hammer.
After deciding to quickly make entry into the home over concerns for the hostage's well-being, deputies managed to safely extract the individual held against their will. However, during the incident, gunfire was exchanged, and Senior Deputy Matthew Mitchell suffered injuries to both his arm and leg. According to the department's statement, Deputy Mitchell, a member of the Sheriff's Office since January 13, 2020, is now in stable condition and expected to recover fully.
The events caused a significant disruption along Pittsboro Goldston Road, leading to closures lasting several hours, and continued partial restrictions near the intersection with U.S. Highway 421 as investigative work progresses. The Sheriff's Office acknowledged the support of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the Moore County Sheriff's Office, and FirstHealth of the Carolinas in managing the crisis.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting, in accordance with standard protocol. The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office also acknowledged assistance from other agencies during the standoff and confirmed that medical care was provided to the injured deputy.
