RANDOLPH COUNTY, N.C. — A man has died after a police chase that started in Rowan County and ended in Randolph County near North Carolina Zoo, Wednesday.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office said the man identified in the chase was 21-year-old Troy Caster of Phaniels Church Road, who died at the scene.
It all started last night when deputies responded to a report of an armed robbery of a woman who was a taxi cab driver at Arcadia Road and Rogers Road near China Grove.
The driver picked up Caster on Rock Hill Church Road in Concord, and drove him to the Arcadia Road location. That’s when deputies say Caster told the driver to give him all of her money.
It was then, Caster was said to have pulled a pink handgun into the driver’s face and have pulled the trigger, but the gun did not fire.
Deputies said the cab driver began fighting to control the gun and Caster was able to fire it, but the bullet passed by the driver and damaged the car’s window.
Caster then left the car and began walking around to the driver’s side pointing his gun at the victim.
Investigators say that the cab driver then drove away leaving Caster standing in the roadway.
The investigation was able to link Caster as wanted by Salisbury Police for larceny of a firearm. Caster was also identified as the suspect in the larceny of a pink handgun, Saturday.
Rowan County Sheriff Deputies obtained felony warrants on him for attempted armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and began the search to arrest Caster.
Throughout the night, Rowan County Deputies responded to numerous locations attempting to locate Caster.
Early Tuesday morning, deputies saw Caster near his home on Phaniels Church Road and attempted to perform a traffic stop, but Caster drove away.
Deputies then pursued Caster through Stanly County, Davidson County, and then into Randolph County, where NC Highway Patrol joined the chase, along with units of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office.
The chase continued near North Carolina Zoo where Caster allegedly fired shots at deputies, that’s when they returned fire allegedly hitting and killing Caster.
The chase ended on a gravel road behind the zoo where the shots were fired.
No law enforcement officers were injured in the shooting. The Randolph County Sheriff’s office and NC SBI are investigating.
Caster was said to have been traveling over 100 miles per hour.
Deputies said that Caster had prior outstanding warrants for felony larceny of a firearm and misdemeanor larceny out of Rowan County.
Investigators say that Caster applied for a pistol purchase permit and was denied the permit by the sheriff’s office.
The investigation is ongoing at this time.
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