An early Sunday morning in the tiny town of Cameron turned deadly when a Moore County Sheriff's Office deputy shot and killed an armed suspect who was reportedly firing at passing cars on Carthage Street. One vehicle was hit, but the driver escaped injury. Deputies say that when they arrived on the scene, the suspect opened fire on them and a deputy shot back, striking the person.
Authorities say the first calls came in about someone shooting at vehicles along Carthage Street in Cameron. When deputies responded, the suspect allegedly fired at them, and a deputy returned fire, killing the suspect. Officials say the deputy was not hurt and have not yet released the suspect's name. These initial details were reported by WTVD.
State Review Under Way
The State Bureau of Investigation has been brought in to lead the probe, shifting the case to the state level. The SBI notes in its public newsroom that it routinely investigates officer-involved shootings and prepares a case file that can be reviewed by prosecutors, according to North Carolina SBI.
Where It Happened
Cameron is a small Moore County town split by North Carolina Highways 24 and 27, which cut through its center as Carthage Street, per Wikipedia. The town counted just 244 residents in the 2020 census, a reminder of how rare an overnight shooting is in this community.
What Comes Next
Investigators with the SBI will finish their work and, in line with the bureau's standard practice, deliver their case file to prosecutors, who will decide whether the deputy's use of force was justified, according to North Carolina SBI. Until the SBI releases more information, local officials are not sharing additional details about the suspect or a timetable for the investigation.
