Local News
Caldwell County deputy shot, killed; suspect at large
Officers are looking for 38-year-old Larry Wayne Brucke Jr. He's described as a white man with blond hair and green eyes. He is 5-foot-8 and has a medium build and a goatee.
Posted — Updated
LENOIR, N.C. — A manhunt is underway in Caldwell County for a suspect that police said killed a deputy on Friday night.
Officers are looking for 38-year-old Larry Wayne Brucke Jr. He's described as a white man with blond hair and green eyes. He is 5-foot-8 and has a medium build and a goatee.
Brucke was last seen wearing a gray Carhart T-shirt, a Farm Bureau hat and brown work pants. He also goes by the name Skip Brinkley.
Two deputies were responding to a 911 hang up call on Fox Winkler Road when the suspect opened fire, officers said.
The first deputy to arrive, Adam William Klutz, was shot as he exited his patrol car. He died from his injuries.
The second deputy to arrive, Lt. Chris Martin, was shot multiple times as he tried to exit his vehicle. Martin was wearing a bullet proof vest, which investigators said saved his life. He returned fire and called for backup.
The suspect fled the scene, officers said. Brucke’s fiancé and her two children were also at the residence. Officers escorted them off the property.
Brucke is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone that sees him is urged to call 911.
A command post has been set up at Oak Hill Elementary School as officers from Caldwell, Catawba and Burke counties search for the suspect. The State Bureau of Investigations is also assisting.
Brucke has served in the Army. Deputies said he was deployed to Iraq and has been back in the country for about a year.
(This story contains information from WBTV)
Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
