03/28/2024
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Bladen County Sheriff's DepartmentbladenboropolicedepartmentA Bladen County Sheriff’s deputy and Bladenboro police officer were justified in using deadly force when they shot and killed an Elizabethtown man in March and no criminal charges will be filed, District Attorney Jon David announced Friday afternoon.

David’s ruling came after an SBI investigation into the shooting.

On March 15, Deputy Cley Carroll of the Sheriff’s Office and Officer Donnie Williamson of the Bladenboro Police Department fired several shots and fatally wounded 24-year-old Declan Owen after he pointed a gun at the officers in a wooded area off N.C. 41 near West Bladen High School. Owen was pronounced dead at the scene by the Bladen County Coroner’s Office.

“The law of North Carolina regarding officer use of deadly force is well settled,” David said in a statement. “An officer is permitted to use deadly force to defend an attack with a deadly weapon against either himself or a third person in his presence. In this instance, where the officers were being threatened with a gun, their use of defensive deadly force was reasonable.

“After considering all of the evidence, it is my conclusion that the officers’ actions were justified and the need for deadly force was authorized by law. Indeed, (the officers) acted in a manner consistent with their training and experience. The shooting in this case was not excessive, but rather was a measured response to Mr. Owen’s actions. The investigation also revealed that impairment may have been a contributing cause of the victim’s actions,” David’s statement said.

The shooting happened less than a mile away from where high school baseball and softball games were being played at West Bladen. People at the games clearly heard several shots fired within a span of 5 to 10 seconds. A few moments later, sirens could be heard as more law enforcement arrived on scene.

The incident began shortly after 7 p.m. March 15 when Carroll was called to the 1100 block of Hickory Grove Ballpark Road after reports of a man, who was Owen, lying in a ditch with a gun, Sheriff Jim McVicker said at the time. Before Carroll arrived, Owen had gotten into a vehicle and left, McVicker said. Carroll was given a description of the vehicle, and the vehicle was spotted and stopped on N.C. 41 about a half mile from the intersection with N.C. 410, McVicker said. Officer Williamson responded to the scene to assist, according to the SBI.

Owen left the car and went into nearby woods. The officers went into the woods in search of him, McVicker said.

Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Larry Guyton said at the time that Carroll and Williamson found Owen lying on the ground with his head propped against a tree. He refused several times the officer’s request to show his hands, Guyton said. Owen then raised his hands and pointed a gun at the officers, Guyton said.

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