North Carolina Officer Critically Wounded
FOREST CITY, North Carolina Aug 12 2021— A Forest City police officer was critically wounded and the suspected gunman was arrested on Monday.
Officer Jamie Hill was flown by helicopter to Spartanburg Regional Health where he underwent at least one surgery and was listed in critical but stable condition, according to WYFF-TV.
Police Chief Chris LeRoy said at a news conference that the shooting occurred after officers were called at about 8:30 a.m. to a Hill Street about a suspicious person who was armed and dangerous.
The subject was identified as 20-year-old Akeil Kelis Omar Franklin, who had outstanding warrants from the North Carolina Probation Department. Three officers who responded to the scene found the suspect—known to officers from past encounters—in a wooded area.
They attempted to talk to the the man about his arrest warrants when he pulled out a weapon and fired it several times, leading the officers to return fire. Franklin was not hit by gunfire, but Hill was struck in the abdomen between his vest and other protective gear during the exchange.
Hill has served with the department for three years and served in the military before that.
Franklin was charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder, assault on law enforcement with a firearm and three counts of resisting a public officer. He was also wanted on outstanding warrants of common-law robbery and assault inflicting serious bodily injury.
