State investigators are on the ground in Hickory after the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) confirmed that a person was shot and killed by a Hickory police officer today. The shooting happened on 5th Street Southeast, and officials say details are still scarce while agents work the scene and collect evidence.
The incident on 5th Street Southeast was reported by WCNC, which noted that SBI agents were called in and that detectives had not yet released the name of the person who was killed.
State investigators step in
Agents from the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation have taken the lead on the criminal inquiry and will turn over their case file to the local district attorney once their probe is complete. As explained by the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, the agency routinely responds to officer-involved shootings when local law enforcement asks for assistance.
Recent officer-involved probes in Hickory
This marks the latest officer-involved shooting in Hickory this year. In February, state agents looked into an incident in which Hickory officers shot a man who officers said was armed with a knife, a case that also drew an SBI review, Spectrum News reported.
What happens next
In the current case, investigators are expected to pull together witness statements, body-worn camera footage and other evidence while the SBI finishes its work. Prosecutors will then decide whether any charges are filed. Hickory Police had not released further details at the time of reporting, according to WCNC.
Legal process
Once the SBI wraps up, its independent case file is typically forwarded to the district attorney, who reviews the material and determines whether charges are warranted. The agency’s public statements say agents collect evidence, interview witnesses and then send their findings to local prosecutors for review, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation says.
