Sheriff’s office: Hostage situation ends in officer-involved shooting

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - A hostage situation ended with the suspect being fatally injured in an officer-involved shooting, according to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office says it responded to the 900 block of Bozeman Road Tuesday shortly after 8 p.m. after a report of a 9-year-old-girl being taken from her home at knifepoint.

“Deputies arrived on scene and observed the suspect in the front yard, holding a knife to the child’s throat and making threatening statements,” a sheriff’s office news release states. “Deputies observed that the female child had cuts to her neck and head area. Deputies also located a male victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the face in the yard. He was transported to NHRMC with life threatening injuries.”

According to officials, the Emergency Response Team was called in to negotiate with the suspect.

“Emergency Response Team negotiators observed the suspect stating he planned on injuring the child again,” the news release states. “Emergency Response Team operators were able to rescue the child, who was transported to NHRMC for her wounds. She is stable but facing additional surgeries for her injuries.”

The new release states that the suspect suffered a fatal gunshot wound, and that the “officer-involved shooting” is being investigated by the State Bureau of Investigation.

WECT reached out to NHCSO to find out if any sheriff’s deputies had been suspended pending results of the investigation and Lt. Brewer replied.

“It is policy that they be placed on administrative leave following an officer involved shooting, so we have two deputies who are on paid administrative leave.”

No other details about the shootings were available.

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