Andrew Roman, Noah Feit, and Mark Price
The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)
A North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper remained hospitalized with serious injuries Tuesday after being shot during a traffic stop Monday afternoon in Wilson County in eastern North Carolina.
The trooper was identified as D. C. Harrell, a five-year veterans assigned to Wilson County, according to a press release from the North Carolina Department of Safety.
He was taken to a hospital “with serious but non-life threatening injuries,” said the release.
Public Safety Secretary Erik Hooks released a statement Tuesday, lauding Harrell. “I spoke with Trooper Harrell last night and appreciate his service, his bravery and his dedication,” said the release from Hooks.
Harrell’s father and grandfather were also state troopers, reports WTVD.
The N.C. Highway Patrol has not released names for those suspected in the case.
However, three suspects have been arrested, WSOC reported Tuesday morning.
WITN identified the prime suspect in the shooting as John Jones, 36, and reported he was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury or assault on a law enforcement officer. Jones was arrested around 12 a.m. “in a wooded area” and was hospitalized with minor injuries, reported WTVD.
WRAL identified the other two suspects as William Allen Boswell and Bryan Jeffrey Mullins, who are charged with possession of a stolen vehicle.
“This needless assault provides another reminder of the perils law enforcement officers face each day,” said a statement released by Col. Glenn McNeill Jr, commander of the State Highway Patrol. “I would ask everyone to keep Trooper Harrell’s family and our entire organization in their thoughts and prayers.”
WRAL reported the trooper was “shot in the face.”
The shooting occurred near the intersection of Hanes and Beauvue roads, WTVD reported. That intersection is located southeast of Elm City and northeast of Wilson.
Multiple local and state agencies were involved in the search for the shooting suspect, said a release from the highway patrol.
The trooper’s patrol vehicle was spotted at the scene around 7 p.m., and “appeared to have 12 bullet holes in the windshield and major front-end damage,” according to WNCT.
Anyone with information should contact the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office at 252-237-2118.
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©2019 The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)