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RALEIGH, NC – A dramatic sequence of events unfolded on Thursday afternoon as a North Carolina state trooper shot a passenger following a high-speed chase that ended in a crash. The incident occurred shortly after 3 PM when law enforcement attempted to pull over a vehicle suspected of reckless driving.
The driver fled, prompting a police pursuit that led officers through several neighborhoods before the vehicle collided with a utility pole. Eyewitnesses reported hearing the crash and the ensuing chaos as officers approached the wrecked car with caution. “It all happened so fast. One minute they were chasing them, and the next minute we heard a loud bang,” said a nearby resident.
After the crash, a confrontation between the trooper and the passenger escalated, resulting in gunfire. Authorities have yet to disclose what led to the shooting, but witnesses claimed they saw the passenger exit the vehicle in a threatening manner. The identity of the passenger has not been released, and the extent of their injuries is currently unknown.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has been called to conduct an independent investigation into the incident, which is standard procedure for officer-involved shootings. The state trooper involved has been placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this incident, local leaders and residents are calling for transparency and answers. “We need to know what happened,” said one concerned citizen. “This is a serious issue that affects us all.”
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