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$1M bond set for suspect in shooting of NC trooper in Wilson

The man accused in the shooting of a third-generation law enforcement officer appeared Tuesday in court, where bond was set at $1 million.

Posted Updated

By
Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter,
and
Natalie Matthews, WRAL digital journalist
ELM CITY, N.C.Update: John Jones' bond was set at $5 million on Jan. 18.

Authorities on Tuesday were continuing to gather evidence in the area where a hunt for an accused shooter ended Monday night in Wilson County after a third-generation law enforcement officer was injured in a shooting.

John Jones, 36, was found late Monday night hiding in the woods after an hours-long manhunt.

Jones, who is being held on a $1 million bond, is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and assault on a law enforcement officer. After being taken into custody, Jones was transported to Wilson Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.

Jones and two other suspects are facing charges in the attack on Trooper Daniel Harrell, who has been on the force for five years, authorities said.

John Jones, Bryan Jeffrey Mullins and William Allen Boswell

Sources told WRAL News that Harrell was shot in the face but has been able to communicate. He was taken to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, and his injuries are not considered to be life-threatening, according to authorities.

Harrell was in stable condition Tuesday night.

William Allen Boswell, 40, of Elm City and Bryan Jeffrey Mullins, 25, of Bailey, are charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle. They are currently in the Wilson County Detention Center under a $15,000 secure bond.

Trooper Daniel Harrell

Authorities said the suspects were towing a car illegally on Monday evening, which is what prompted Harrell to make the initial traffic stop.

Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone said the driver of the car opened fire on Harrell.

"...shoots (Harrell) through the windshield one or two times. The trooper then engages him in gunfire, then the vehcile pulls off and goes down the road," Stone said.

Stone said the suspect then got out of the car and engaged in more gunfire before hitting Harrell's cruiser head on.

At least 10 bullet holes were in Harrell's patrol vehicle after the incident.

Bullet holes in trooper's vehicle

Michael Jernigan, Boswell's stepfather said he had nothing to do with the shooting.

"We're just concerned about the officer's family and wish prayers for them," he said. "It's a terrible thing that happened."

Annie Banton, who lives nearby, described the shooting as "awful."

"Those troopers, they're just doing their job. He didn't have to shoot that man like that," she said.

According to a statement from the Highway Patrol, Harrell, a five-year law enforcement veteran, was shot around 5:15 p.m. on Monday while conducting the stop on Haynes Road, southeast of Elm City.

"This needless assault provides another reminder of the perils law enforcement officers face each day," said Col. Glenn McNeill Jr., commander of the Highway Patrol. “I would ask everyone to keep Trooper Harrell’s family and our entire organization in their thoughts and prayers.”

Wilson County Sheriff Calvin Woodard Jr. told reporters at the scene that several law enforcement agencies, including from Nash, Edgecombe and Wilson counties, along with Rocky Mount police and the Highway Patrol, were involved in the search for Jones.

A search of Jones' criminal history revealed that he was scheduled to appear in court later this month for larceny, assault and charges of communicating threats. He also has pending charges for selling meth, possession of a firearm by a felon and other drug-related charges.

Jones has previously served time for larceny and DWI.

Sky 5 flew over the scene at about 6:15 p.m. Monday, where more than a dozen law enforcement vehicles were seen responding to an incident in the area. Around 7 p.m., law enforcement officers appeared to have stopped a tractor-trailer and a blue SUV near where the shooting occurred.

The Wake County Sheriff's Office took to Twitter to post about prayers being said for Harrell, who was shot in Wilson County less than a week after a Raleigh police officer was wounded while on duty.

Officer Charles Ainsworth was shot while attempting to arrest someone on Western Boulevard near Schaub Drive around 8:25 p.m. on Wednesday. The officer was tracking a report of a suspicious vehicle that was believed to have been involved in a carjacking.

Ainsworth was shot multiple times, including once in the neck, after exiting his patrol car, authorities said. He remained hospitalized at WakeMed on Monday.

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