Washington, NC, police officer shoots, kills man
A white North Carolina police officer fatally shot a black motorist who stepped out of his vehicle with a gun during a traffic stop, authorities said Monday.
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The shooting happened Sunday afternoon, Stacy Drakeford, director of Washington police and fire services, said in a statement.
Cedric Pritchard of Washington got out of his vehicle with a gun after the stop, Drakeford said. The officer, whose name hasn't been released, then shot Pritchard.
Drakeford said by phone that Pritchard was black, and the officer involved was a white man. Drakeford didn't immediately respond to an email later in the day asking if Pritchard made any gestures with the gun.
Teresa Pritchard told WITN-TV in Greenville that her son's death was "a hard pill to swallow."
"I'm looking for him coming through the door anytime, and I won't see him. That's going to be hurtful," Teresa Pritchard said.
Natasha Knight said she ran out of her home when she heard the gunshots and told WNCT-TV in Greenville she was overcome by emotion when she found out who had been shot.
"I think all of our eyes filled with water," Knight said.
The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case. The officer has been placed on administrative leave.
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