ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — UPDATE: The Pasquotank County Sheriff's Office provided an update Tuesday night, saying that a second suspect who had been in the car before fleeing, Sean Mulford, was arrested and charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer and misdemeanor resist, delay and obstruct.
Deputies continue to search for the first suspect, Bradley Ferris. He has warrants out for his arrest for felony flee to elude arrest and felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
A shelter-in-place order has been lifted, hours after deputies in Elizabeth City alerted residents in the Foxhaven subdivision about two suspects on the run who are considered armed and dangerous.
According to the Pasquotank County Sheriff's Office, deputies attempted to stop a vehicle with two people inside Tuesday morning near Main Street Extension. They said the vehicle did not stop, and a police pursuit began.
Officials said at one point, one of the people inside the vehicle allegedly shot at the pursuing deputy with a rifle. The deputy wasn't hurt.
“You know, the way things are getting around here lately... no, I can’t say I’m shocked. I wish it would shock me,” local resident Dal Reese said.
The vehicle eventually stopped at a wooded area near the Foxhaven subdivision and two men got out and ran into the woods.
Both suspects are still at large and considered armed and dangerous. One suspect is described as a white man weighing about 250 pounds and has balding hair. He was last seen wearing a dark-colored t-shirt.
The second suspect is described as a man last seen wearing a puffy-style jacket with fur on the trim of the hood. One of the suspects was armed with a rifle when they fled on foot.
The Sheriff's Office issued a shelter-in-place while a manhunt for the suspects was underway.
People in that area got an emergency alert on their cell phones this morning warning them of “ongoing law enforcement activity” and asking them to stay inside.
“I got the alert on my phone,” Alvaro Torres said. “Shocked that it was around this area, Elizabeth City, but at the same time you just got to be safe.”
The alert read: “All residents are requested to shelter indoors until further notice."
Other local law enforcement agencies are assisting Pasquotank deputies in their search.
As of 3:30 p.m., Pasquotank-Camden Emergency Management said the shelter-in-place had been lifted.
“Every day you turn it the TV there’s someone being shot... it’s getting to be a regular thing, it really is,” Georgie Cooper said. “It’s very scary. And I know all the kids are out of school for Easter.”
Deputies said the vehicle the suspects were in was determined to be stolen out of McDowell County, N.C. on March 17. Cell phones and spent shell casings were reportedly found inside the vehicle.
The Sheriff's Office has named Bradley Allen Ferris of Elizabeth City as a person of interest. He is described as a white man 5'9" in height, with brown hair and brown eyes. He weighs approximately 289 pounds.
If you know of Ferris' whereabouts or have any information about either suspect, you're asked to call the Pasquotank County Sheriff's Office at 252-338-2191 or the Crimeline at 252-335-5555.