COLFAX, NC - A police officer with the Greensboro Police Department (GPD) was fatally shot after witnessing a crime while off duty.
According to FOX 8, Greensboro Police Chief John Thompson said that the off-duty police sergeant was shot at a Sheetz on Sandy Ridge Road after witnessing a crime and confronting the suspects. Another Greensboro police officer and a Guilford County paramedic rendered first aid and other life-saving measures immediately, but the sergeant was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The sergeant has been identified as Philip Dale Nix.
Thompson said in a statement, "He was a loving husband, father, son, and brother with 22 years of service to the department and this community. We ask for prayers for the family of the fallen officer and our Greensboro PD family."
The violent incident took place on Saturday, December 30th. Later that evening, police sent out a blue alert announcing that they were searching for two suspects in a black Chevy Equinox.
In another blue alert, police announced that the shooting had been an "assault on a law enforcement officer." Mayor Nancy Vaughan said in a statement to reporters, "I am angry and I am sad. I think those are feelings that are felt throughout this department and throughout this city." She called the attack a "senseless act of violence."
Governor Roy Cooper said in a statement, "I spoke with Greensboro Police Chief Thompson earlier this evening offering all available state resources to catch those who killed a Greensboro police officer. Our prayers are with the Greensboro police and family and loved ones. Evert effort must be made to apprehend those responsible and bring justice to this tragic situation."
Greensboro Police Department sent out a post via X stating that the officer's death is being investigated as a homicide and remains an active case.
According to WRAL, 18-year-old Jamere Foster has been charged with the veteran officer's first-degree murder. A warrant states that he stole "several Modelo beer cases" valued at roughly $83 the day Nix was killed. Another 18-year-old and a 28-year-old, both with lengthy rap sheets of larcenies and drug charges, also face charges in Nix's death.
The warrants state that after the murder, Foster worked with the other two suspects to sell the stolen better and buy drugs. Foster also faces charges of larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny. Z'quriah Le'Pearce Blackwell, 18, was charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. John Walter Morrison, 28, was charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny.
Foster and Morrison are being held without bond. Blackwell is being held on a $500,000 bond. All three are from Winston-Salem and are due in court on Tuesday, January 2nd.
Zach Matheny, a member of Greensboro City Council, said that it is an officer's nature to step in even when off duty. He said, "The integrity that our women and men have ... they're never off-duty. He was off-duty, but he wasn't off-duty ... [he was] a person of integrity that tried to do the right thing."
Retied Durham Police Captain Robert Gaddy said, "Officers are willing to serve no matter what they're doing, where they're at. I think that's one of the things that makes us different from many other professions."
Matheny said that he has met Nix numerous times. Nix, who had a teenage son, was described by his peers as a loving husband, father, son and brother. Matheny said, "He cared about this community ... and he loved his family 10 times more than he loved this community. So, I hope they can feel his arms wrapped around them."
According to FOX 8, Greensboro Police Chief John Thompson said that the off-duty police sergeant was shot at a Sheetz on Sandy Ridge Road after witnessing a crime and confronting the suspects. Another Greensboro police officer and a Guilford County paramedic rendered first aid and other life-saving measures immediately, but the sergeant was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The sergeant has been identified as Philip Dale Nix.
Thompson said in a statement, "He was a loving husband, father, son, and brother with 22 years of service to the department and this community. We ask for prayers for the family of the fallen officer and our Greensboro PD family."
The violent incident took place on Saturday, December 30th. Later that evening, police sent out a blue alert announcing that they were searching for two suspects in a black Chevy Equinox.
In another blue alert, police announced that the shooting had been an "assault on a law enforcement officer." Mayor Nancy Vaughan said in a statement to reporters, "I am angry and I am sad. I think those are feelings that are felt throughout this department and throughout this city." She called the attack a "senseless act of violence."
Governor Roy Cooper said in a statement, "I spoke with Greensboro Police Chief Thompson earlier this evening offering all available state resources to catch those who killed a Greensboro police officer. Our prayers are with the Greensboro police and family and loved ones. Evert effort must be made to apprehend those responsible and bring justice to this tragic situation."
Greensboro Police Department sent out a post via X stating that the officer's death is being investigated as a homicide and remains an active case.
According to WRAL, 18-year-old Jamere Foster has been charged with the veteran officer's first-degree murder. A warrant states that he stole "several Modelo beer cases" valued at roughly $83 the day Nix was killed. Another 18-year-old and a 28-year-old, both with lengthy rap sheets of larcenies and drug charges, also face charges in Nix's death.
The warrants state that after the murder, Foster worked with the other two suspects to sell the stolen better and buy drugs. Foster also faces charges of larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny. Z'quriah Le'Pearce Blackwell, 18, was charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. John Walter Morrison, 28, was charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny.
Foster and Morrison are being held without bond. Blackwell is being held on a $500,000 bond. All three are from Winston-Salem and are due in court on Tuesday, January 2nd.
Zach Matheny, a member of Greensboro City Council, said that it is an officer's nature to step in even when off duty. He said, "The integrity that our women and men have ... they're never off-duty. He was off-duty, but he wasn't off-duty ... [he was] a person of integrity that tried to do the right thing."
Retied Durham Police Captain Robert Gaddy said, "Officers are willing to serve no matter what they're doing, where they're at. I think that's one of the things that makes us different from many other professions."
Matheny said that he has met Nix numerous times. Nix, who had a teenage son, was described by his peers as a loving husband, father, son and brother. Matheny said, "He cared about this community ... and he loved his family 10 times more than he loved this community. So, I hope they can feel his arms wrapped around them."
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