Shannon Davis claims her husband, Shawn Strickland, was likely on drugs when he tried to take their 4-year-old daughter away around 3:30 a.m. Sunday. She called Hoke County deputies and reported a kidnapping. The deputy arrived while Strickland was still in the driveway.
"As he approached the van, he almost ran the deputy over. The deputy had to actually jump on the truck of his vehicle to keep from getting run over," said Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin.
The sheriff says Strickland, who has a history of assaulting and running from law enforcement, drove off on Old Wire Road. The deputy went after him, but kept his distance. He feared Strickland would be a hazard on the road.
Strickland approached the intersection without his lights on and ran through the stop sign, colliding with another car. Nicholas Bullard, 6, who was sitting in the back of that car, died.
"I'm so sorry for that family. I can't do nothing to help them. If there's anything I can do, I want them to know how sorry I am. I wish it never would have happened," Davis said.
Bullard's 2-year-old brother, Joshua Hunt, was also hurt in the incident and remains fair condition. His parents were treated and released from a hospital.
Deputies said Strickland ran from the accident, but later turned himself in.
Strickland was charged with second-degree murder. He has a first court appearance Tuesday and the sheriff said more charges could be filed against him.
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