North Carolina deputy killed in standoff after wellness check

A sheriff’s deputy died and a K-9 deputy was wounded after a shooting at a home in western North Carolina that led to an hours-long standoff.

Watauga County Sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Ward died at Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, Tenn., after being shot at a home in nearby Boone, N.C., according to multiple reports.

Ward and K-9 Deputy Logan Fox went to a home in the North Carolina city to perform a wellness check on a family after they did not attend their workplaces or respond to phone calls on Wednesday. The deputies were fired on after entering the home, and both were struck. 

The shooter remained barricaded in a section of the house for several hours on Wednesday, periodically shooting at law enforcement at the scene.

The suspect appears to have died, although officials did not immediately confirm the nature of the person’s death, according to multiple reports.

The Hill has reached out to the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office for comment.

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), whose district includes Watauga County, on Wednesday, prior to the news of the deputy’s death, shared that “These brave men and women put their lives on the line to protect us, and they deserve our profound gratitude every day.”

My prayers are with the deputy that was injured in the line of duty this afternoon and the entire Watauga County Sheriff’s Department.

These brave men and women put their lives on the line to protect us, and they deserve our profound gratitude every day. https://t.co/l8MibTIKxD

— Virginia Foxx (@virginiafoxx) April 28, 2021