Sheriff: Man charged in shooting unaware he was firing at deputy

Officials said Joey Cashwell was mowing the grass at his home on Stedman-Cedar Creek Road on Thursday afternoon when a car slowed down as it was driving by. He saw the barrel of a gun come out of the car's window, and someone started shooting.

Cashwell was not injured and was able to get into his unmarked patrol car and chase the vehicle.

Sheriff Ennis Wright said the suspect, identified as 33-year-old David Bain, did not know he was shooting at a deputy.

"Because if it wasn't an off-duty officer or regular civilian, he wouldn't have gave chase," Wright said.

The chase started in Cumberland County and ended on Horsehoe Road in Sampson County where Bain and 29-year-old Robert Gibbons jumped from the SUV and ran.

Gibbons was captured and appeared in court on Friday.

Bain was convicted of second-degree murder in 2002 and was released from prison in 2016.

"They did not know that officer, that deputy. They didn't know him," Wright said. "It was just a random person they were shooting at until those blue lights came on and that's when it got serious for them."

Bain was jailed on $2.5 million bond on charges including assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit assault. He is due back in court on August 3.