Confrontation in North Carolina leaves 5 dead, including two sheriffs

Alton Barnes killed two bailiffs, his mother and stepfather before commit suicide, in Bonne, a town in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Photo: ALEX EDELMAN / AFP / Getty Images

Five people were killed, including two North Carolina Sheriff’s deputies, after a a person who did not show up for work ended in gunfire and a confrontation of 13 hours, said the authorities, in Bonne, a city of 19, 04 inhabitants and located northwest of Charlotte, the largest city in the state.

The bailiffs were ambushed and fatally wounded as they made their way to the basement of the house, the Watauga County Sheriff, Len Hagaman , reported CNN .

The sheriff’s office had been alerted Sunday that the unidentified suspect what killed officers, as well as his mother and stepfather before taking his own life “could be a problem,” Hagaman said .

K-9 Sheriff Logan Fox died at the scene in the town of Boone, on Blue Ridge Mountain, and Sgt. Chris Ward died after being airlifted to a local hospital, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

During the attempts to rescue the officers, which lasted for hours, there were several exchanges of gunfire and another policeman was shot but was not injured when wearing bulletproof protection , explained the office of the Watauga County Sheriff.

Finally, Police were able to enter the house where found three more bodies, including that of the shooter.

Sheriff’s office released l The identities of the suspect and his parents killed in the confrontation . It is suspected that Isaac Alton Barnes , from 32 years, he killed his mother, Michelle Annette Ligon, from 61, and his stepfather, George Wyatt Ligon , from 58. The parents had lived in the house where the confrontation took place, reported wyff4.com.

“This is an incredibly tragic situation and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved, as well as their families and our community”, said Sheriff Len Hagaman . “I greatly appreciate the tremendous support we are receiving from law enforcement agencies throughout the region and the state.”

The Sheriff’s Office said officers from approximately 15 Law enforcement agencies surrounded the house. Other people who lived nearby were evacuated or told to shelter in place since the confrontation lasted throughout the entire Tuesday day and part of Wednesday night.

The authorities have indicated that the investigation is still open to try to clarify the possible reasons for the tragic events.

“The terrifying shootings that took loved ones show the danger always present that security forces face in their work ”, pointed out Roy Cooper, state governor, in a statement.