News Flash

Durham police and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that happened early Wednesday morning at a convenience store.

Based on a preliminary investigation, officers were dispatched at 3:26 a.m. to an “attempted suicide” call at the Circle K at 109 N.C. 54 Highway West. Responding officers were told that a man was cutting himself inside the store. When officers arrived, they found the front door to the business was locked and they saw a man violently attacking the clerk with a sharp weapon. 

During the incident, the officers fired shots at the man who was actively attacking the clerk. Officers rendered aid to the injured store clerk as well as to the man who had been shot. The man, whose identity has not been released at this time, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The clerk was taken to the hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The officers were treated at the scene for minor injuries. 

The DPD officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave with pay, which is standard procedure in an officer-involved shooting. The incident is being investigated by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the DPD Professional Standards Division, which is also standard procedure. The investigation is ongoing. 

“My staff and I are always saddened by any loss of life. We will continue to keep our officers and the store clerk in our thoughts and offer condolences to the family of the man that has died,” said Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews.