2 North Carolina deputies shot, suspect deceased
Lenoir County's sheriff confirmed two of his deputies were wounded while responding to a report of shots fired on Friday. (Photo by North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation)
Authorities in North Carolina confirmed that two Lenoir County sheriff’s deputies were wounded Friday in the line of duty.
The North Carolina Bureau of Investigation responded to the Pink Hill community, about 70 miles southeast of Raleigh in Lenoir County.
2 North Carolina deputies shot
Dig deeper:
Sheriff Jackie Rogers said the sheriff’s office received a report of someone firing shots in the area, WRAL-TV reported. Rogers said that when deputies arrived, a man came out of a home and fired at them, hitting one deputy.
When deputies returned fire, the man, identified as 58-year-old Cecil James Langston, went back inside the home, Rogers said.
The sheriff said Langston fired again at deputies as they worked to coax him out of the home and that a second deputy was wounded.
EMS took both deputies to an area hospital for treatment. As of Friday evening, both deputies, identified as Capt. Jovanni Villagra and Sgt. Cole Davis, were in stable condition.
Rogers told WRAL that Langston was eventually found in a bedroom and was deceased.
What they're saying:
"My first concern is, and will continue to be, the safety and well-being of Captain Villagra and Sergeant Davis," Rogers told News 12. "I have spoken with members of their families, and our Sheriff’s Office family is standing together with them during this difficult time."
"Their actions reflect the commitment our men and women in law enforcement make every day to protect the people of Lenoir County," Rogers added.
The Source: Information in this story came from the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation, WRAL-TV and News 12.