COLFAX, N.C. — UPDATE: Three people have been arrested in connection to the death of Sergeant Philip Dale Nix.
An off-duty Greensboro police sergeant is dead after a shooting at the Sheetz on Sandy Ridge Road in Colfax Saturday afternoon, according to police.
Greensboro police said they have confirmed they're looking into suspects tied to the shooting. Earlier in the day, the North Wilkesboro Police Department said the suspects had been caught. GPD confirmed with us that there is still an active search and can't confirm the suspects were arrested.
Around 4:00 p.m., Greensboro police said the suspects left the Sheetz headed westbound on I-40 West, driving a black Chevrolet Equinox with the NC plate KKA-4332. The car also has a Hertz Car Sales plate on the front. Investigators believe the suspects are in their early to mid-20s. One suspect is wearing a black hoodie, black sweatpants, black shoes, and green/gray toboggan. The other suspect is wearing a jean jacket with fur and gray sweatpants, with tennis shoes.
During a press conference Saturday night, Greensboro police said they were not going to release the name of the officer out of respect for the family but they wanted to let everyone know that the officer was a 23-year vet with GPD, a loving father and husband.
Investigators said the off-duty officer saw a crime in progress and was trying to stop it when he was shot. Coincidently, another off-duty officer and a Guilford County paramedic were on the scene. They rushed to help the officer, but he later died at the hospital.
The Sheetz has been closed for several hours since the shooting and won't open until later Sunday.
Nick Ruffner, PR Manager for Sheetz released this statement:
Sheetz is incredibly saddened by the violence that took place at our store on Sandy Ridge Road yesterday afternoon. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Greensboro police department and the family of the police officer that lost his life.
The safety of our customers and employees at Sheetz is a top priority in every community we serve. We are working with the police department to investigate this matter and will do whatever we can to assist with the ongoing investigation.
The North Carolina Fraternal Order of Police confirms the officer's death in a post on Facebook:
“Tonight, an officer with the Greensboro Police Department was shot and killed. Please keep the family, friends, co-workers of this officer in your thoughts and prayers as they deal with this tragic loss. For all of the other law enforcement officers who are searching for the suspects, please be safe and lets get all those who were involved in custody.”
This is a developing story. Stay with us as we work to learn more.
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