The responding deputy arrived at 11:55 p.m. and began interviewing the original caller and involved parties. While conducting the investigation, a Macon County deputy was confronted by an armed suspect. The deputy gave repeated commands to drop the weapon. The suspect took aggressive action toward the deputy, prompting the deputy to discharge his weapon in self-defense, which struck and killed the suspect.

“Upon my arrival and after checking on my officers and reviewing the scene, I contacted and requested the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to conduct a full investigation into the incident,” Holland said. “Because this is an SBI investigation, the Macon County Sheriff’s Office is not in the position to disclose any additional information until the conclusion of the SBI investigation and subsequent review by the District Attorney’s Office.”