Motorcyclist shot dead by Sampson County deputy after pulling gun following chase, crash, officials say

Motorcyclist shot dead by Sampson County deputy after pulling gun following chase, crash, officials say
May 24, 2025

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Motorcyclist shot dead by Sampson County deputy after pulling gun following chase, crash, officials say

CLINTON, N.C. (WNCN) — Officials in Sampson County say a motorcyclist was shot dead by a deputy after he pulled a gun following a chase and crash Saturday morning.

The incident was reported around 9:30 a.m. when deputies noticed a motorcyclist had a registration violation, and a chase began on U.S. 421 north of Clinton, according to a Sampson County Sheriff’s Office news release.

“During the pursuit, deputies noticed the male operator had a firearm on his side,” the news release said.

The chase continued on several other roads and then back onto U.S. 421, deputies said. When the motorcyclist approached Kitty Fork Road, he lost control and crashed, according to the news release.

The scene after the motorcycle crash and deadly shooting with several evidence markers on the left side of the photo. Such markers typically denote the location of spent gun shells. Photo courtesy: The Sampson Independent

“The motorcycle operator drew his weapon, and a deputy fired their service weapon, striking the suspect,” the release said.

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Deputies then started administering first aid to the suspect until EMS crews arrived.

The suspect was then taken to Sampson Regional Medical Center, where he was later pronounced deceased, deputies said.

The scene after the motorcycle crash and deadly shooting with several evidence markers on the left side of the photo. Such markers typically denote the location of spent gun shells. Photo courtesy: The Sampson Independent

No deputies were injured in the incident.

The name of the person who was killed was not released late Saturday morning.

Scene photos by The Sampson Independent showed at least 11 evidence markers — typically used to note the location of spent gun shells — on the road beside a deputy’s cruiser near Sanderson’s Kwik Stop, a Marathon gas station.

“This is a very fluid investigation, and no further details are available at this time,” the sheriff’s office said.

The shooting is being investigated by the North Carolina SBI, which is standard for such incidents, officials said.

“Our agents are on the scene investigating and collecting evidence,” SBI spokesman Chad Flowers said in a statement to CBS 17. “No additional information is currently available.”

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