ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (WAVY) — A Perquimans County man was taken to the hospital after being shot by an Elizabeth City Police officer Sunday afternoon.
An Elizabeth City Police Department officer arrived in the area of Hughes Boulevard and Halstead Boulevard around 12:40 p.m. for a report of a subject armed with a weapon.
Upon arrival, the officer encountered a 32-year-old Perquimans County man, who was in possession of a firearm, according to officials. The officer fired his weapon and the man was struck, according to a release.
The man was taken to Albemarle Medical Center and subsequently taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital for treatment. The condition of the man is unknown.
The officer, a veteran of the Elizabeth City Police Department for over 20 years, has been placed on paid administrative lead, pending the outcome of an investigation.
Raj Patel, a manager at the Eagle Mart just across the street from the incident, told 10 On Your Side he heard the shots being fired and says when he looked outside, he saw a man with his hands up.
“All of a sudden, I just heard a couple gunshots like fireworks,” said Patel. “So, I just looked out of the window, and I saw a guy on the ground, and I don’t know who was in front of him, but he was just looking at him, and that guy had his hands up like he don’t want to do anything. It was very rapid. It was just rapid. That’s why before I could understand everything, it was all done.”
Another witness who wished to remain anonymous says they saw everything unfold as they were leaving Patel’s gas station.
“I was walking back to my car and I heard gunshots,” said the witness. “I looked up and somebody had just gotten pulled over. And to me, it looked like the man was holding a weapon and it looked like he was trying to shoot at the officer.”
The witness says they believe they saw the suspect sustain an injury to the face.
“Once he was on the ground, I saw his hands up,” said the witness. “To me, it looked like a portion of his face was, it was bad. I mean, don’t think he could say anything.”
Both witnesses say the experience has left them shaken.
“Of course, I’m a little bit shaken because I’ve never seen gunshots like this anywhere in my lifetime,” said Patel.
“It was very scary. It made me feel very unsafe,” said the anonymous witness. “To know, that something like that can happen just while you’re out and about, kind of just doing your normal everyday activities.”
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has assumed control of the investigation, which is active and ongoing.
