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(WHITEVILLE, NC) – A driver opened fire on a North Carolina state soldier during a roadside check on Wednesday morning, killing the veteran road patrol, who spent 11 years , announced the authorities. The suspect was arrested after a lawsuit.
At approximately 12:15 pm, the soldier stopped the white van because he was suspected of driving fast on a highway in a rural area of Columbus County, southwest of Whiteville, Sgt. Highway First Highway Patrol. Michael Baker. Baker said the driver fired on rider Kevin Conner while he was approaching.
"The driver of this vehicle fired several shots, hitting the soldier," Baker told reporters.
The suspect escaped and Conner was taken to the hospital where he died.
According to Baker, the driver then went about 20 km to the west (32 km) of Fair Bluff, near the South Carolina state line where the authorities have pursued in a lawsuit. The truck became disabled on the city's railroad tracks and the suspect ran away on foot. Authorities said the suspect was arrested around 4 am after a thorough search.
According to Baker, the man, whose name was not immediately published, was currently being held in the Columbus County Jail, pending charges.
The road patrol said the soldier based in Columbus County was a veteran of the organization for 11 years. Patrol commander Colonel Glenn McNeill said the organization was "crying the loss of a hero" as condolences from law enforcement agencies on social media were pouring in.
"Many will say that he was the kindest guy you've ever met and those who knew Kevin and his family would agree," said the Bladen County Sheriff's Office on Facebook.
WRAL-TV reported that Conner had helped save lives after a violent fire in Columbus County in 2011. An article by WRAL that year said Conner was using a fire extinguisher to extinguish the flames and that he himself and another soldier provided first aid before ambulance arrived.
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