State Troopers Cleared in Fatal Shooting of Raleigh Man

RALEIGH, N.C. — A preliminary investigation has cleared four North Carolina Highway Patrol troopers of a shooting that killed a Raleigh man last month.

Authorities said Stephen Ryan Gibson, 23, robbed a Duplin County convenience store and then led troopers on a high-speed chase spanning several counties.

Troopers said they saw Gibson moving between the front seat and back seat and that he climbed out of the passenger side with his torso showing and displaying a weapon.

Investigators said the troopers and a Wake County sheriff's deputy then shot and killed Gibson.

Trooper P. E. Holmes, First Sgt. J. D. Henderson, Trooper D. C. Pate, Trooper L. B. Lovick and Deputy Robert S. Cook, were placed on administrative duty while the State Bureau of Investigation looked into what happened before and during the incident.