ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — An Elizabeth City police officer shot and killed a man early Saturday who police say refused to drop his weapon after shooting another man.
At a press conference Saturday afternoon, Chief Phil Webster said this is the Elizabeth City Police Department's first officer-involved shooting in at least 19 years.
"On behalf of Elizabeth City Police Department, we express our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Bryan White and Cory Revelle," Chief Webster said.
"Three families tragically affected and forever changed: the family of Cory Revelle, the family of Bryan White and the family of our officer and his extended ECPD family. We pray for those involved and their families."
The initial shooting happened just before 2 a.m. on North Poindexter Street near the intersection with East Colonial Avenue.
According to Chief Webster, an officer was on foot patrol in the area when investigators believe Bryan Christopher White, 33, shot Cory Christopher Revelle, 39.
Police say the officer approached White shortly after hearing several gunshots and ordered him to drop his weapon. Police say White did not follow the officer's orders, and so the officer shot him.
The police department said additional officers arrived and provided aid to White and Revelle at the scene until medics arrived. However, both men died from their injuries after being taken to Sentara Albemarle Medical Center.
Police have not said what led to the initial shooting or if White, who is from Belvedere, North Carolina, and Revelle, who lived in Elizabeth City, knew each other.
"These are the facts as I know them right now," Chief Webster said at the press conference. "An officer arrived on scene to conduct a foot patrol. A homicide was committed in his presence, and the officer attempted to stop the suspect in the homicide who was armed and did not heed his commands, and subsequently, he was shot and killed."
When asked by a reporter if the officer actually witnessed Revelle being shot, Chief Webster said "he was in close proximity."
When asked how many shots were fired or if White's gun was pointed at the officer, Webster said those things were still under investigation.
The Police Chief said the officer, who has not been publicly identified, is a 16-year veteran of the department. He is currently on administrative leave.
Webster also said the officer had a body camera running at the time of the shooting.
"We're going to work with SBI and the District Attorney's office to release the body camera video as soon as we can," he said. "It's our desire to be as transparent with the public and with ya'll as possible."
On Wednesday, April 24, a spokesperson for ECPD said a 17-year-old boy from Perquimans County was injured by gunfire during the incident. Police claim they haven't determined how the teen was shot, but he was treated at the hospital and has since been released.
It's unclear if the teen was hurt during the shooting of Revelle or if he was struck when the officer shot White.
ECPD is handling the investigation into Revelle's homicide, while the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the fatal shooting of White by the police officer.
ECPD will also conduct its own internal affairs investigation to make sure department policy was followed throughout the incident.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call ECPD at 252-335-4321.