KING, N.C. — King police said one of their officers is recovering after being shot in the head during a traffic stop on Sunday. Investigators said the 19-year-old suspect died.
King's police chief told WFMY News 2's Jenna Kurzyna that the officer is awake and talking and is in good spirits. They said the officer's surgery went well.
Police said it all happened around 12:40 a.m., while two officers were holding a traffic stop on Newsome Road near the Dogwood event center. One of the officers went to approach a car and as they walked past the car, the passenger got out and began shooting. The other passengers in the car took off running.
The officers took cover and started exchanging gunfire with the shooter. The officer who first approached the car was hit by gunfire in the head. The shooter was hit by one of the officer's bullets during the exchange. Officials later said the suspect died.
EMS took the officer to the hospital to undergo surgery. King Police said the officer suffered from a fractured skull.
The Stokes County Sheriff Joey Lemons shared a Facebook post about the incident, calling it "one of the most challenging days" the county's first responders had gone through in a long time.
"Stokes County’s first responders had one of the most challenging days yesterday we have had in a long time involving multiple responses throughout the county," the post read in part. "As your Sheriff, last night I got the call no Sheriff wants to get about an officer being shot in the line of duty. The King Police Department officer and part-time deputy was taken to the hospital where he is being treated for his injuries."
"Keep the support up for the family, the officer and, you know, we greatly appreciate the backing that we have from our community and King, and throughout, you know, just keep up the support and that's what it's gonna take," Boyette said. "The officer has a little road he's gonna have to go and it's not going to be a fix overnight."
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting.
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