Police: Man shot in neck by Zebulon officer has lengthy criminal record

Police on Monday identified the officers and suspect involved in a Sunday night shooting at a Zebulon gas station.

Officers responded at about 5 p.m. Sunday to the area surrounding a Walmart on East Gannon Avenue after a man called 911 to report himself as a wanted subject for absconding parole.

The man gave the 911 dispatcher his name ad described himself as an Indian man with long hair and a beard wearing khaki pants and a white shirt before telling the dispatcher he would wait at Walmart for the police.

"I'm trying to turn myself in and I'm at Walmart in Zebulon and I have nowhere to sit down," the man tells a 911 dispatcher. "I have one [warrant] for parole violation. Not sure if there's another one or not."

Responding officers located the man, identified as Kurt Lee Walters, 30, of 8720 Dukes Lake Road, near the Murphy Express gas station at 801 East Gannon Avenue. Police said Walters became combative when they attempted to speak with him, and he pointed a weapon at one of the officers.

"People commonly call and turn themselves in, but to become uncooperative after that, I think that is something we will find out as the investigation comes along," Police Chief Tim Haywood said.

Police said Officer Nathanial Brown, 52, fired one shot at Walters, striking him in the neck.

"The officers are trained that obviously if their life is threatened, then that officer is going to stop that," Haywood said.

Walters was taken to WakeMed, where he was listed in stable condition Monday afternoon.

Brown and the second officer, identified as Robert Prichard, 35, were not injured.

Police said Brown has been with the Zebulon Police Department for about 12 years and has been placed on non-disciplinary administrative duty, which is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings.

Police said Prichard has been with the Zebulon Police Department for about 10 years. Neither officer has been previously involved in a shooting, police said.

Authorities said Walters has had no previous encounters with the Zebulon Police Department, but has a lengthy criminal record. The North Carolina Department of Corrections has a valid warrant for Walters for being a parole absconder, police said.

Police said a vehicle that had been reported stolen earlier Sunday was located in the Walmart parking lot and officers have reason to believe Walters stole the vehicle and used it to drive to the area.

The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident, which is standard protocol for officer-involved shootings.

Anybody with information is asked to call 919-779-8188.