A Rocky Mount block was shut down Sunday after a police officer was involved in a shooting in the 3300 block of Sunset Avenue. Officers at the scene said the area was secure and stressed there was no ongoing danger to the public. The block was closed to traffic while investigators worked the scene and collected evidence, and drivers were urged to steer clear until things wrapped up.
According to ABC11, authorities have released only limited information so far while detectives sort out what led up to the shooting. Anyone who may have seen or heard something is asked to contact the Rocky Mount Police Department at (252) 972-1411, or send an anonymous tip by texting the keyword RMPD and the message to 847411, as outlined on the city’s police page. Police have also asked motorists to use alternate routes until the investigation scene is cleared.
State Investigators Step In On Officer-Involved Shooting
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation typically conducts independent probes into officer-involved shootings and was notified to take the lead in this case, in keeping with standard practice for such incidents. The SBI posts updates and press releases about these investigations on its newsroom page as information becomes available, according to the North Carolina SBI newsroom.
Sunset Avenue’s Recent Violence
This stretch of Sunset Avenue has already been on law enforcement’s radar after a string of serious incidents in recent months, adding extra tension to any police activity along the corridor. A Thanksgiving 2025 homicide on Sunset Avenue was reported by ABC11, and an unrelated early-January arrest tied to a different Sunset Avenue killing was covered by WITN. Those earlier cases helped spur stepped-up patrols and closer attention from investigators, which is part of why both residents and officers have been watching the area so closely.
Rocky Mount police say Sunday’s investigation remains active and that more details will be released when they can share them publicly. This story will be updated as officials provide additional information, including findings from the SBI review.
