Sgt. Chris Ward was identified as the North Carolina sheriff’s deputy who was shot and killed by a suspect holed up in a house, while a second injured deputy was trapped inside.
Senator Thom Tillis wrote on Twitter, “Susan and I are heartbroken Sgt. Chris Ward with the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office was killed in the line of duty. We are praying for his family, the officer wounded, and the community they served. A tragic reminder of the dangers our law enforcement officers faces every day.”
Church parking lot, near where reporters are being asked to stay, is full of law enforcement.
We were just told by a Blowing Rock police officer family members of members of law enforcement are also parked down here.
Officer called situation “developing”
A second deputy, Logan Fox, was injured and remained trapped inside the house on the evening of April 28, 2021, according to WBTV. His condition is not clear. This is a picture of Deputy Fox, who is a K-9 handler.
Age
His age is unclear.
Incident Detail
Two deputies were shot Wednesday afternoon after they went to do a welfare check at a Watauga County home, the sheriff’s office said.
Sgt. Chris Ward died after he was airlifted to Johnson City Medical Center, officials said.
Deputies were called to the Hardaman Circle area in Boone around 9:45 a.m. after the homeowner and his family did not go to work and were not answering phone calls.
Officials said deputies entered the house after seeing all the family’s vehicles were still on the property. When deputies went into the house, someone inside opened fire and struck the two deputies.
The other deputy, Logan Fox, is still on the scene inside the house. His condition is not known.
Authorities turned the parking lot at Mount Vernon Baptist Church into a mobile command center.
Tributes
People wrote tributes to Ward on social media.
“He was such a great man. We will never forget…” wrote one. “Broken… he was a great police officer,” wrote another.
Ward’s Facebook page said he was married, studied at Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute, went to Watauga High, and was from Sugar Grove, North Carolina. Ward and his wife have children, according to his Facebook page.
He shared photos with the filter “a blue family” and tributes to other fallen officers. #hislifemattered read the caption on a picture of one fallen officer superimposed on the thin blue line flag. He posted tributes honoring William Mast, a deputy who was shot and killed while responding to a call in 2012:
