Apex police chief Jason Armstrong stated Tuesday afternoon that an SBI agent seemed to have shot and killed a man after an alleged shoplifting investigation.
It happened at approximately 1:30 p.m. in front of the Academy Sports and Outdoors store on Pine Plaza Drive in the 1150 block. According to Armstrong, three people were involved in the incident. Police came and discovered “three individuals” involved in the incident. He went on to say that a male with gunshot wounds was on the ground, that a woman was with him, and that the second man was “actively involved in the altercation.” The man was transferred to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Armstrong stated that the investigation is still ongoing and that police are interviewing witnesses in the parking lot, but that the event started with suspected stealing inside Academy Sports.
He claimed that a guy and a woman were at the store when the lady attempted to grab ammunition from a counter display. Armstrong stated that the man and lady fled the store with the stolen goods, and when they arrived in the parking lot, they were approached by a man who turned out to be an SBI agent, who was subsequently wearing the shirt in which the man was shot and died. Armstrong stated that another gun was discovered near the shooting victim.
“We believe that was his weapon,” Armstrong explained.
According to the official, the woman was also taken to the hospital for assessment but was not shot during the event. The name of the shoplifting suspect is unknown, according to Armstrong. Because it was a shooting involving police personnel, the police chief said he contacted Attorney General Lorraine Freeman and SBI leaders.
The initial inquiry is being conducted by the Apex Police Department.