UPDATE: Raleigh Police Department Presence on I-440

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Laura Hourigan | 919.996.1219 | laura.hourigan@raleighnc.gov

Yesterday, at approximately 1:32 p.m., Raleigh Police Department officers were dispatched to a vehicle crash on I-440 westbound near exit 12 towards Brentwood Road. Multiple 911 calls were received regarding the wreck as well as information indicating that a person was intoxicated.

Upon arrival, officers immediately began investigating the wreck. The Raleigh Fire Department and Wake County EMS were already on scene to treat the injured subjects.

Officers were alerted that an individual was armed with a knife. The officers approached the armed individual who was walking away with a small child. Officers gave the individual multiple commands to drop the knife and a woman on scene was able to get the child away.

Officers continued to give commands to drop the knife. When the subject refused, a taser was deployed to diffuse the situation. As the officers attempted to take the subject into custody, the individual swung the knife towards officers. One of the officers fired shots at the subject in response to the active use of the knife. Aid was rendered on scene; the subject was then transported to the hospital where he was subsequently pronounced deceased. The identities of those involved are not yet available for release.

In keeping with departmental policy, the SBI (State Bureau of Investigation) was notified and promptly responded to conduct the criminal investigation concerning the officer-involved shooting. The SBI will submit its findings directly to the Wake County District Attorney.

The RPD’s Internal Affairs Unit will conduct an administrative investigation that will focus on departmental policy compliance.

Additional information about the incident will be provided as promptly as possible, and a written report outlining the RPD's initial findings will be provided to the city manager within five business days.

The 911 call recordings related to the incident is available at a link below. As required by § 132-1.4 and/or § 143-518, information has been redacted from the calls and the audio has been altered to disguise the callers' natural voices.

The radio traffic is also available at a link below.

The officer who discharged his firearm was wearing a body worn camera that was activated and captured the incident. Other officers who were present also had body worn cameras that were activated. The Raleigh Police Department will seek a petition to authorize release of the video of this incident.

The information immediately below was distributed at 5:33 p.m. on January 11:

Raleigh Police Chief Estella D. Patterson will make a brief statement today at 5:50 p.m. at 6716 Six Forks Road.

The information immediately below was distributed at 2:50 p.m. on January 11:

Raleigh Police Department presence on I-440 westbound between New Bern Avenue and Brentwood Road concerns an officer-involved shooting incident. Additional information concerning the incident will be made available as follow-up investigations progress.