Suspect pepper sprayed officer, leading to officer-involved shooting in North Carolina

WEAVERVILLE, N.C. (FOX Carolina) – The Weaverville Police Department says there was an officer-involved shooting in a Walmart parking lot on Monday.

According to the department, at approximately 9:20 p.m., officers were conducting detailed crime prevention activities at the Walmart store at 25 Northridge Commons Parkway when they witnessed a man being chased into the parking lot by Walmart security personnel.

Police said that when an officer tried to stop a man suspected of shoplifting, the suspect attacked the officer and pepper-sprayed him. In response to the assault, the officer fired a shot that hit the suspect.

Authorities said the suspect, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, was taken into custody and taken to Mission Hospital for treatment. The officer was also treated at hospital for his injuries and has since been released.

As is standard protocol, the Weaverville Police Department called in the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) to conduct an independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting.

The officer was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the SBI investigation.

Stay tuned as we work to learn more.

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