ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — An Elizabeth City police officer was justified in fatally shooting a murder suspect in late April, a North Carolina district attorney said Tuesday.
It happened in the early morning hours of April 20, when an officer shot Bryan White, 33, following the deadly shooting of Cory Revelle, 39.
According to the Elizabeth City Police Department, the officer opened fire when White refused to drop his weapon after shooting Revelle.
On Tuesday, District Attorney Jeff Cruden issued a statement that recommended the officer, a 16-year veteran of the police department, return to his duties.
Cruden said he watched surveillance video released from a local business along North Poindexter Street. The officer is seen on foot patrol along the street when White and Revelle were seen leaving local businesses following a commotion just before 2 a.m. April 20.
According to Cruden, the video shows White pulling something from his waistband and then shooting at Revelle seven times.
The officer then reportedly pulls his gun out and orders White to stop and drop his weapon. Cruden said White then runs down the street, still holding the gun.
When White reaches a vehicle, he stops, turns around, and points the gun at the officer. That's when the officer fires four times, hitting White three times.
Both White and Revelle died at the scene.
Cruden stated the officer who shot White followed North Carolina law, which states: "a law enforcement officer is justified in using deadly force upon another person only when it is or appears to be reasonably necessary to defend himself or a third person from what he reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of deadly physical force."
The district attorney concluded his statement by recommending the officer return to his duty "without delay."