Soldier Helps Catch Suspect in Police Shooting

Fayetteville, N.C. — A Fayetteville police officer was listed in good condition at a hospital Monday evening after being shot overnight during a foot chase.

Officer Douglas Austin was on patrol at around 3 a.m. Monday near Jack's Ford Road when he noticed a suspicious vehicle in the area, police said. When the vehicle refused to stop, Austin followed the vehicle to Fleishman Street, police said.

According to police, the suspects ran from their vehicle and Austin followed them on foot. He was shot by one of the suspects behind an apartment complex at 4045 Galveston Court, police said.

Austin, the son of Fayetteville City Councilwoman Lois Kirby, was shot once in the chest, but he was wearing a bulletproof vest and is expected to be OK, police said. Austin's father is Tom Austin, baseball coach at Methodist University.

"I heard about seven shots. I don't know if I heard the cops or the suspects. I don't know which one it was, but there were a lot of bullets out here," said resident Temeisha Payne.

Payne said she saw one suspect fall backwards through a fence.

A Fort Bragg soldier, who did not want to be identified, ran outside and tackled the suspected shooter until a second officer arrived at the scene.

"My wife woke up and heard some yelling out in the back yard. So, I started getting dressed, put some boots on, and then I heard a couple of shots while I was getting dressed. That made it a little more urgent," the soldier said.

"The suspect had the officer on the ground, so I went and started kicking him in the head and stomping, trying to get him off," he said. "The officer asked for help: 'Get this guy off me.'"

A second suspect in the case was apprehended Monday afternoon in the area of Dashland Drive, police said.

The names of the suspects haven't yet been released.

Austin, 23, has been with the Fayetteville Police Department since January 2005. He is the son of Fayetteville City Councilwoman Lois Kirby.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Fayetteville police at 910-433-1856.

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Latest Comments

I happen to live right next door to the unnamed soldier and his wife. All I have to say is that I am fortunate to live next to two great people. They have looked out for me, especially since my husband is currently deployed. I thank you both for doing the right thing. I am lucky enough that I wasn't in town at this time.

kekili8882
April 3, 2007 6:18 p.m.

rainy39...de da de...If race isnt an issue,why did you make a point to mention (im white)?Or you just talking as your way of helping change things.....lay off the GRITS

kota2947
March 27, 2007 9:17 a.m.

dsal68 ..I said "what I was told"...NOT, How I see things...big difference!

Greekgirl
March 27, 2007 8:30 a.m.

Courtney,had me flagged..because I said ..lets give her a standing ovation...people are just too sensitive.

Greekgirl
March 27, 2007 8:27 a.m.

courtney_829..........I give a big thanks to the outstanding job your husband did to save that officers' life. As a retired law enforcement officer, I know what it takes to go out there and have something go terribly wrong and have a brave citizen come to your rescue. It is rare, but I commend him highly, as not everyone would have done the same. I am sure many other people heard the shots and did nothing. I truly believe that officer would have been killed if no one had done anything. I understand his desire to remain unnamed, but I am sure there are many, many people who would like to thank him as well as all the members of the FPD and law enforcement in general.

goheels
March 27, 2007 8:00 a.m.