KANNAPOLIS, NC - Police fatally shot a man during an alleged carjacking at South Main Street and Bethpage Road, according to the Kannapolis Police Department (KPD).
Officers responded to the area at approximately 11:40 a.m. for reports of a man firing a gun near South Main Street and Bell Street, WSCO-TV reported. As officers approached the scene, they witnessed the suspect holding a gun and attempting to carjack a vehicle at the intersection.
During the incident, officers fired at the suspect, striking him. He was taken to Atrium Health Cabarrus, where he died from his injuries. No police officers were injured during the incident.
A woman who owns a coffee shop at the corner of Main Street and Bethpage Road allegedly witnessed the incident as it unfolded in real time. She said the suspect first attempted to enter a vehicle in front of him before targeting a second car directly behind it.
"He tried to grab one car in front of him. They already got off. He grabbed the second one that was behind him,” the coffee shop owner said. “The lady’s doors were locked, thank gosh. But he grabbed the back seat of her car. He didn’t get in. She kind of drove off, which kind of flung him in the direction of going back toward the direction of the apartment complex. Then, the police officers were here on the scene. They told him to freeze. He didn’t. He proceeded to run and then we heard five gunshots."
A resident living in a nearby apartment complex stepped outside after hearing the disturbance. She said that despite living in the area for seven years, she had never experienced a similar situation.
"I’ve been here about 7 years, first time ever,” the resident said. “It can happen anywhere really, to be honest. But outside your front door? It’s kind of shocking."
All officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol pending an internal review of the shooting.
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