COLFAX, NC – A tragic incident unfolded on Saturday near Greensboro, North Carolina, as an off-duty police sergeant was shot dead at a gas station around 4 p.m. Eastern Time. The incident happened in Colfax at a Sheetz gas station, as per reports from Greensboro law enforcement.
Police Chief John Thompson said during a press briefing held later on Saturday that the incident took a fatal turn when the officer, who was on his off-duty hours, observed a crime in progress. Upon trying to confront the suspects, he was shot. Thompson fondly remembered the slain officer as a loving husband, father, son, and brother.
While an earlier police alert had detailed the search for two suspects in their mid-20s who presumably drove a Chevrolet Equinox, it is yet to be confirmed if the culprits have been apprehended.
The search for the culprits is being facilitated with the aid of multiple agencies, such as the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service, informed Thompson. In reaction to the tragic incident, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper conveyed that he had been in dialogue with Thompson and pledged any necessary assistance to apprehend those responsible for the Greensboro police officer’s murder. He expressed heartfelt prayers for the grief-stricken Greensboro police and the victim’s family and loved ones, urging immediate action for justice.
Another off-duty police officer and an off-duty paramedic, both of whom were present at the scene, rushed to provide emergency treatment. Unfortunately, the officer succumbed to his injuries shortly after being transported to a nearby hospital.
The name of the late officer has not been disclosed to the public yet. A veteran of the department, it was conveyed that he’d had 22 dedicated years of service. Further details regarding the incident remain undisclosed.