Gaston Co. Police Officer Shot and Wounded, Suspect Killed; Listen to Calls for Help

By: staff | WSPA-TV
Published: July 06, 2009

**Updated Monday, July 6, 4:15 p.m.**

A couple across the street from the scene of the shooting says they saw an Explorer pull up early this morning and turn off its lights. They called it in to police as a burglary. The man who lives next door says he recognized the vehicle as similar to what he'd seen on news reports on the serial killer. He says he didn't tell his wife because he didn't want her worried, but that he wanted police there. The woman, Terry Valentine, says she saw the homeowners get out of the vehicle when police arrived, then saw another man she didn't know stumble out of the vehicle. She says he was a big guy, around 6'2"-6'4" with a stocky build, large ears and hair tuffed out.
Valentine says, they were all talking to police and the three went inside. She heard someone yell, "put it down!"
Valentine says the police went in and she saw the flash from one shot coming from inside the home fired toward the police officer then there was a ton of other gunfire.
She then saw an officer walk out, slump over a patrol car and heard another officer on the radio saying, an officer has been shot.

Valentine tells News Channel 7, the house has not been lived in for months and there is no electricity.

**Posted Monday, July 6, 1:00 p.m.**

A North Carolina police officer has been wounded and a suspect killed during a confrontation after the officer responded to a burglary call.
It happened around 3:00 a.m. Monday morning at a home on Dallas Spencer Mountain Road in Gaston County, west of Charlotte. Police say three officer responded to a call about a possible burglary and found three suspects inside the home. Police say they learned one suspect had an outstanding warrant in Lincoln County, but he pulled a gun and opened fire when they tried to serve him.
Officer J.K. Shaw was shot in the leg. Police returned fire, killing the suspect. The other two suspects were arrested. The injured officer was treated at the hospital and released. The incident is now under investigation.