A man in Gastonia, North Carolina, suspected of child-kidnapping was fatally shot after running over an officer with his car on Wednesday.
Video camera footage from a neighbor’s doorbell camera captured the scene of the police shooting. The suspect has been identified by the Gastonia Police Department as 21-year-old Jason Lipscomb. In the video, the suspect is seen getting into a silver four-door car while being chased by officers.
Police shouted, “Stop the car! Get out of the car!” while they approached the vehicle. Lipscomb proceeded to back up the car and accelerate the engine, running an officer over. Lipscomb attempted to flee before being killed by a barrage of gunfire by the police.
Gastonia Police Division has confirmed the officer was struck by the suspect’s vehicle. The police officer sustained serious injuries after being quickly transported to a local hospital.
In a press conference, Gastonia Police public information officer Rick Goodale said that just after 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, police officers received a 911 call alerting them about a child kidnapping concerning two children.
According to Goodale, police arrived at North Edgemont Avenue off Freeway 71 and located the two children inside a residence, uninjured and secure. Police found Lipscomb near the house, where “some kind of encounter” ensued before the shooting began. Investigators have not yet confirmed whether Lipscomb was armed.
Following standard protocols regarding officer-related shootings, the investigation will be taken over by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Officers involved in the shooting are placed on administrative leave.
The investigation is still currently ongoing.
