Sergeant Chris Ward and Deputy Logan Fox of the Watauga County Sheriff’s Department in North Carolina, were shot and killed while conducting a welfare check.
A coworker of the homeowner had requested a welfare check after the man did not report for work and was not answering his phone. Responding officers found all the vehicles belonging to the owner in the driveway. As Sergeant Ward and Deputy Fox entered the home to check on the occupants someone inside opened fire, striking both deputies.
Backup officers were able to clear Sergeant Ward from the home but were unable to reach Deputy Fox. Sergeant Ward was airlifted to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The subject barricaded himself inside of the house and continued to shoot at officers on the perimeter throughout the day. He committed suicide several hours into the standoff. Deputy Fox was retrieved from the residence and pronounced dead.