A police officer shot a suspect in the abdomen outside a Bojangles in Henderson on Wednesday night, according to officials.
Henderson police responded to the call around 8 p.m. outside the Bojangles on Andrews. Ave.
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Vance County officials said that a man, Carlos Alston, waved a gun at officers from a vehicle. An officer engaged, firing at Alston and hitting him in the lower abdomen, according to officials. Alston then got out of the vehicle and tried to run away, but was caught by officers.
Vance County officials told WRAL News that Alston is still in the hospital and he has not been booked or officially charged as of Thursday afternoon.
Alston was previously charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or cause serious injury, among other offenses. Officials said Alston had outstanding warrants.
A very large police presence was on the scene, with at least a dozen police vehicles flashing blue lights up and down the road. Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow was on the scene, according to officials.
Video from the scene showed a crowd of witnesses reacting, with many responding angrily to the incident.
"We've been taught early in our childhood that law enforcement are here to help us," said Mayor Eddie Ellington in response to the incident. "For anyone to pull a firearm on an Officer of the law is blatant disrespect and sadly a sign of the times that we live in. These men and women put their lives on the line each and everyday."
The District Attorney's office will be brought into the investigation.
WRAL News has asked Henderson police for more information and requested body camera footage from Wednesday night.