I am on the scene of this manhunt. Follow me on Twitter to keep up with the latest and breaking news @GeraldJBlessed
A massive search is underway for a 30-year-old man police say shot a police officer Thursday night in Lenoir County, North Carolina.
Robert Strother, 30, is currently charged with attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and inflict serious injury, discharging a weapon in an occupied dwelling, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Strother has not been captured yet and remains at large, and police say he is “armed and dangerous.”
It all happened Thursday night when 30-year-old Steven Key, a K-9 officer, responded to a domestic call on Lang Skinner Road just before 9:00 p.m. Police said when Key arrived, Strother was standing in the yard with his back turned. As Key tried to approach Strother and talk with him, Strother turned around and shot Key in the neck.
Strother fled the area as police searched for him overnight into Friday.
Key was transported to UNC Lenoir Health, where he was treated and released.
Friday morning, police said that Strother had shot another man and took his truck. The truck was later found, but Strother was not inside.
The second victim has been identified as Kenny Golf. His relatives told local reporters that he was shot four times and is fighting for his life.
Lenoir County Sheriff Ronnie Ingram says they believe that Strother is still within the perimeter of the area and encourages everyone who lives in or near North Kennedy Home Road, Snake Road, and South Lang Skinner Road to stay out of the area.
If residents want to return now, they are returning at their own risk. He (Strother) has shown what he will do, as evidence by his actions this morning. He is still armed and extremely dangerous, Ingram said.
N.C. SBI, as well as the FBI, has been called in to assist in locating Strother.
In 2013, Strother was convicted of assaulting a Kinston police officer. He was released in May of this year and is currently on probation for that conviction.
DEVELOPING STORY…
