A late-night police chase in Fayetteville ended in gunfire and a house left damaged after officers say a driver in a stolen SUV accelerated toward them, then crashed into a home and fled on foot.
Two Fayetteville police officers opened fire shortly before midnight Tuesday after they approached the reported stolen vehicle on foot and the driver suddenly sped toward them, according to The Charlotte Observer. The SUV later slammed into a house off Frost Drive, and the driver ran from the scene. No officers were hurt, and investigators kept the area sealed as the search stretched into Wednesday.
How the chase unfolded
Police say the pursuit began around 11:30 p.m., when officers spotted the reported stolen vehicle on Country Club Drive near Murchison Road and followed it into a neighborhood near Ramsey Street. The car came to a stop, then took off again, hitting several objects and ultimately a house, WRAL reports.
Investigators later asked residents on Frost Drive, Hastings Drive and Country Club Drive to review their home surveillance systems and Ring cameras for any footage that might help piece together the chase and the driver’s escape.
Neighbors describe chaotic scene
Neighbors told reporters they heard repeated gunfire and watched as officers, K9 teams and a helicopter combed the area, according to ABC11. One resident summed up the noise bluntly, saying, “It was a lot of guns.”
Another neighbor said someone pounded on their door during the commotion and that officers instructed residents to stay inside while the search continued.
Investigation and next steps
The two officers who fired their weapons have been placed on administrative leave while the Fayetteville Police Department investigates the shooting, The Charlotte Observer reports. Police said searches on the ground and by air, including K9 units, continued as they worked to track down the driver, and it remained unclear whether the suspect was injured.
Officials have not released the names of the officers or the driver. Anyone with information was urged to contact Detective B. Pleze or reach out to Cumberland County Crime Stoppers.
Where this fits
The incident adds to a recent string of high-risk pursuits in the area. In April, a separate stolen-vehicle chase ended after officers said a fleeing driver opened fire and was arrested, as documented by local outlets and summarized in a previous Hope Mills chase. Cases like these typically trigger close reviews by police and prosecutors, who will examine whether the officers’ use of force followed department policy and North Carolina law.
Anyone with information about Tuesday’s chase and shooting is asked to call Detective B. Pleze at (910) 676-2596 or submit an anonymous tip to Cumberland County Crime Stoppers at (910) 483-TIPS. Fayetteville police say the case remains an active investigation.
