Off-duty North Carolina cop killed while confronting crime suspects at gas station
An off-duty North Carolina police officer with more than two decades on the job was fatally shot while trying to stop a crime at a local gas station, authorities said Sunday.
Sgt. Philip Dale Nix – who had served 23 years with the Greensboro Police Department – “witnessed a crime occurring” around 4 p.m. Saturday at the Sheetz location on Sandy Ridge Road in the city of Colfax when he jumped into action, Chief John Thompson said.
“The officer approached the suspects and was subsequently shot,” Thompson said.
Three suspects, all from Winston-Salem, were arrested Sunday in connection with the veteran officer’s death, according to WTVD.
Jamere Justice Foster, 18, was being held without bond on charges of first-degree murder, larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny, the outlet said.
The other two suspects were identified as Z’quriah Le’Pearce Blackwell, 18, and 28-year-old John Walter Morrison.
Blackwell was also being held without bond on charges of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny, while Morrison was charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder and being held on a $500,000 bond, according to the report.
Police released an alert Saturday night saying they were searching for a black Chevrolet Equinox, but the alert was canceled hours later, according to WXII12.
The hero cop was treated by another off-duty officer — who happened to be at the scene – in addition to a paramedic.
He was taken to a local medical facility, where he succumbed to his injuries.
“He was a loving husband, father, son and brother with 22 years of service to the department,” Thompson said. “We ask for prayers for the family of the fallen officer and our Greensboro PD family.”
In a statement, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper offered his condolences and support in tracking down the suspects.
“I spoke with Greensboro Police Chief Thompson earlier this evening offering all available state resources to catch those who killed a Greensboro police officer,” Cooper said. “Our prayers are with the Greensboro police and family and loved ones. Every effort must be made to apprehend those responsible and bring justice in this tragic situation.”
Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan called the deadly shooting “one of the hardest things I’ve faced as mayor.”
“Words are inadequate right now,” Vaughan told reporters. “There’s really, nothing I can say that’s going to give the family or officers any comfort. What happened today is a senseless act of violence and we have to remember that.”
