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Two law enforcement officers were involved in a shooting early Saturday morning that sent a wanted man to the hospital following an exchange of gunfire during a traffic stop in Elizabethtown.
According to Bladen County Sheriff James McVicker, a deputy initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of Poplar Street and King Street about 1 a.m. Saturday after observing a driver run two traffic lights.
During the stop, McVicker said, it was learned the driver was wanted for failing to appear on a possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a Schedule VI controlled substance (marijuana).
“The deputy had the driver step out of the vehicle and told him he was under arrest for the outstanding warrant,” McVicker said. “When he patted the driver down he located a small bag of a controlled substance.
“At that point, a struggle ensued and the driver made it back to the door of his vehicle and retrieved a handgun. The deputy saw the weapon and told the Elizabethtown Officer, who had just arrived, the driver had a gun. The driver then fired a shot at the Elizabethtown officer at which time both officers returned fire,” McVicker said.
The driver, who McVicker did not identify, was struck several times. He was transported to Bladen County Hospital and later moved to New Hanover Memorial Hospital in Wilmington where he underwent surgery. His condition is not known.
McVicker said neither officer was hit during the exchange of gunfire. The officers, who were not identified, were treated and released from the hospital. The officers have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the SBI, which is standard procedure in officer-involved shooting cases.
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