COLFAX, N.C. — Editor's note: The video above is from previous reporting on the death of a Greensboro officer.
A community is mourning the loss of a Greensboro police officer after he was killed in a shooting at the Sheetz gas station on Sandy Ridge Road in Colfax.
Sergeant Philip Dale Nix was off duty Saturday afternoon when he saw a crime in progress, tried to stop it, and was shot. Coincidently, another off-duty officer and a Guilford County paramedic were on the scene. They rushed to help Sgt. Nix, but he later died at the hospital.
Greensboro police remembered Sgt. Nix as a loving husband and father during a press conference Saturday night.
"He was a loving husband, father, son, and brother... We ask for prayers for the family of the fallen officer and our Greensboro PD family," Greensboro Police Chief John Thompson said.
"This is difficult this is one of the hardest things things that I have faced as mayor words or inadequate right now. There's really nothing I can say that's gonna give the family or the officers any comfort. What happened today was a senseless act of violence and we have to remember that," Mayor Nancy Vaughan said during the press conference.
Sgt. Nix served the city faithfully for 23 years.
During his time with GPD, Sgt. Nix worked as a Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Detective, Patrol Corporal, Patrol Sergeant, Police Training Officer, Financial Crimes Detective, and his most current assignment was as Supervisor of the Family Victims Unit.
As Supervisor of the Family Victims Unit, he served as part of the Elder Justice Committee, and the Domestic Violence High Risk Team and routinely assisted with the Friends Against Fraud and Vital Signs Programs.
He was also a Team Leader for the Peer Support Team for over 12 years and was the current Assistant Team Leader of the GPD Honor Guard.
Sgt. Nix had been a member of the US Secret Service Financial Crimes Task Force and the U.S. Attorney’s Identity Theft Task Force.
He was also one of Guilford County’s leading experts on Non-Fatal Strangulation Investigation.
Sgt. Nix received his BA from UNCG and was awarded several awards including the Greensboro Merchant Association’s Crime Prevention Award, his Department’s Superior Service Bar, and an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate.
Greensboro Fire Department said Sgt. Nix had several family members currently in the GFD and other family members who have retired from the GFD
MORE WAYS TO GET WFMY NEWS 2
Subscribe to our daily newsletter Let’s Get 2 It!
Download the WFMY News 2 APP from your Apple or Google Play store.
ADD THE WFMY+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or search for WFMY.
Amazon Fire TV: Search for WFMY to find the free app to add to your account. You can also add the app directly to your Fire TV through your Amazon account.