WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Winston-Salem police said a man involved in a standoff with police was shot to death by officers.
The standoff occurred late Thursday night just before 9 p.m. in Winston-Salem. Police responded to a domestic disturbance call at a home on South Main Street. They said that led to a standoff between law enforcement and the man involved, Gilbert Lee Collison, Jr.
Officers said a woman got into an argument with Collison, Jr., who was also her short-term boyfriend after learning he was wanted by law enforcement. Police said the woman later told them he broke into her home and was armed with a shotgun and threatening to shoot law enforcement officers. They also said Collison, Jr. pointed the shotgun at her and threatened to shoot her during the argument. Police said Collison, Jr. was wanted by multiple police departments. He was wanted by multiple agencies for the following crimes:
- Failure to register as a sex offender
- Larceny and violation of a protective order
- Two counts of driving while license revoked
- misdemeanor probation violation
- Failure to register as a sex offender
- Failure to report new address sex offender
- Two counts of possession of methamphetamine and driving while impaired.
Winston-Salem police then obtained a warrant for arrest for Collison, Jr. charging him with assault by pointing a gun.
Officers then tried to get him to leave the house. For several hours, SWAT utilized Crisis Negotiators by talking with Collison, Jr. over the phone to surrender peacefully. Investigators said Collison, Jr. said he would shoot police officers and he was willing to die before going to prison.
The SWAT team then used a chemical agent to try to get Collison, Jr. out of the house. Police said Collison, Jr. then shot at police from inside the house.
“I heard the SWAT truck crashing through there around three in the morning and I heard a shoot out and then after that, I just (saw...) a police presence," said neighbor Michael Gambill. "I heard (police) in there just constantly begging him to come out, saying they wouldn’t harm him and everything else saying please come out will help you."
Around 2:30 a.m., police said Collison, Jr. entered into the front doorway of the home armed and confronted SWAT. He was struck in the leg by a less-lethal impact baton fired by SWAT, according to police. Investigators said Collison, Jr. then shot at officers with the shotgun for a final time. Investigators said three officers shot back at Collison, Jr. and he fled back into the house. They then discovered he was on the living room floor and attempted to render aid but he died.
One neighbor said she had to leave her home for about five hours because of the standoff. She said the violence in the community is part of the reason she's moving from Winston-Salem.
"I have a 16-year-old grandson that’s staying with us now and he’s in high school and it’s just scary. It’s scary because there are so many guns," said Shelly Collins.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation will investigate as its standard protocol following an officer-involved shooting. The Winston-Salem Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division will also investigate. The administrative investigation will also be conducted by the Winston-Salem Police Department’s Professional Standards Division.
As is standard protocol, the involved officers have been placed on administrative duty. The involved officers are identified as follows:
- Sergeant B. H. Ashley is a seventeen (17) year veteran of the Winston-Salem Police Department and is currently assigned to the Patrol Division. Sergeant Ashley also serves on SWAT.
- Sergeant P.T. Watkins is a nineteen (19) year veteran of the Winston-Salem Police Department and is currently assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division. Sergeant Watkins also serves on SWAT.
- Corporal J.M. Heyer is an eight (8) year veteran of the Winston-Salem Police Department and is currently assigned to SWAT.
