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Deputy fatally shoots Kenly man

Reginald Lee Witcher shot at two deputies Saturday evening, according to the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy returned fire, hitting and killing Witcher.

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KENLY, N.C. — A man was fatally shot and a sheriff's deputy was injured Saturday evening at a Kenly home, according to the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office.

Two deputies went to the 2349 Glendale Road residence shortly after 9 p.m. to assist an ambulance that had been called to treat an injured person.

When the deputies arrived, Reginald Lee Witcher, 54, shot at them from his front door, Tammy Amaon, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office, said. A deputy returned fire, hitting and killing Witcher.

A deputy was injured during the exchange of gunfire from shrapnel or glass from the front door.  He was treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries.

“It was just amazing. It was just unbelievable to find out what has happened,” a neighbor said.

The neighbor described the man and woman who lived at the house as a nice couple.

“They have just been good neighbors. You couldn't have asked for no better,” the neighbor said.

Deputies have withheld information about the original call that brought paramedics to the home.

The deputies involved have been identified as Deputy Sgt. J.K. Garner and Deputy A.J. Case. Both are on administrative leave with pay, which is standard procedure for all officer-involved shootings.

The State Bureau of Investigation was reviewing the incident, which is also standard procedure.

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