Sources told WRAL that the shooting occurred in the parking lot of a SuperTarget department store which is at one end of a recently built shopping area adjacent to the Streets of Southpoint Shopping Center.
Durham police said the store's pharmacy tipped them off that a couple had attempted to fill a fraudulent prescription. The officer came to the store and confronted the couple, who were in the parking lot attempting to leave in their truck.
After the couple disregarded the officer's order to stop, he fired his gun once, police said. The driver was shot in the chest, with the bullet passing through and hitting the passenger, police said.
The two injured people were taken to a local hospital, where police said both were in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police cordoned off an area of the parking lot that was off-limits to shoppers. The crime scene tape kept some shoppers from getting to their vehicles. However, the store remained open after the shooting.
"I was kind of freaked out," said shopper Cory Liverman. "A bit too close to home."
State Bureau of Investigation officials were at the scene late Friday afternoon to conduct an independent investigation of the shooting, said police officials. However, investigators said preliminary indications are that the officer had no choice but to fire.
"Anytime an officer feels that his life is in danger, he's doing what he or she is trained to do," said Durham Police Sgt. Jack Cates.
Police said the driver of the truck will be charged with assault of a police officer. Investigators said they may also file prescription fraud charges as well.
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