Editor’s note: An investigation has cleared Brunswick County Sheriff’s Officer Major Laurie Watson of any wrongdoing and she has be reinstated to full duty. That story can be read here.
BRUNSWICK COUNTY — A 28-year-old man, the subject of a federal immigration and customs investigation, was shot at his home during an officer-involved shooting Tuesday morning.
Detectives with the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office were assisting the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigation (ICE) with a search warrant at a home located in the 9000 block of Little River Road, NW in Ash, according to sheriff’s office spokeswoman Emily Flax.
The subject of the investigation – 28-year-old Bradley Barrett Lewis – displayed a handgun and fired a single shot while authorities were attempting to secure the suspect. At the same moment, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office Major Laurie Watson drew her service weapon and also fired a round.
The subject of the investigation – 28-year-old Bradley Barrett Lewis – displayed a handgun and fired a single shot while authorities were attempting to secure the suspect. At the same moment, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Officer Major Laurie Watson drew her service weapon and also fired a round.
Lewis suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was transported Grand Strand Medical Center, where he remains.
“It has not been determined whether the injury was self-inflicted, or the result of deadly force used by Major Watson,” Flax said.
The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office of Professional Standards has opened up an internal investigation into the deadly force in the incident, a standard procedure for the sheriff’s office, Flax said. The State Bureau of Investigations is also conducting an investigation into the officer involved shooting, at the request of Brunswick County Sheriff John W. Ingram V., and District Attorney Jon David.
Watson has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. She has been employed with the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office since 2001, and is a major over the sheriff’s office investigative division.
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