Two officers shot dead at Person County courthouse after accused tried to attack people :: WRAL.com

By Sarah Krueger, WRAL Durham reporter & Matt Talhelm, WRAL reporter

Roxboro, North Carolina – A shooting involving an officer was reported inside the Person County courthouse on Thursday afternoon.

A source told WRAL News that a person was appearing in court on a forcible confinement offense and had been found guilty.

The source said the man started screaming and threw down a chair. Roxboro city officials said it appeared the man attempted to attack people inside the courtroom, including the bailiff.

The source said two court officers worked to subdue the man, but apparently during the fight the man got hold of one of the officer’s weapons. At that point, an officer shot the man, according to the source.

Roxboro city officials said one person was taken to hospital in critical condition. One officer received a broken arm and the other broke an arm during the scuffle, the source said.

The people who live in the area are amazed at what has happened.

“I didn’t expect something like this to happen in Roxoboro,” said Leslie Evans, who lives near the courthouse. “But then again, with all the craziness that’s been going on lately, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”

The State Bureau of Investigation will take charge of the investigation, which is typical of a shootout involving an officer. Person County District Attorney Mike Waters said Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman would handle the incident with SBI as Waters office workers were in the courtroom during the shooting .

The Person County Courthouse will be closed on Thursday.