Clinton police officers who shot, killed man in October 2023 were justified, investigation finds

An investigation has determined that two Clinton police officers who shot and killed a man in October 2023 were justified in their actions.

"After reviewing the investigation of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), Senior Assistant District Attorney Lori Carroll and I have determined that Kasey’s death, while tragic, was justified because Kasey’s actions caused officers with the Clinton Police Department to reasonably believe it necessary to use deadly force to protect their lives," District Attorney Ernie Lee said.

On Oct. 26, 2023, around 1 a.m., three officers responded to a reported assault in the 100 block of Dogwood Circle.

A woman said a man armed with a handgun had attacked her, using the weapon to strike her head and face. She described his appearance to officers and warned them he was hiding inside the house and still armed.

Officers searched the home but could not find the suspect. Around 1:41 a.m., while searching the home a second time, officers found the man hiding in a closet. At 1:41 a.m., the man pointed a handgun at officers, who returned fire. Dashawn Montrell Kasey, 28, was pronounced dead at the scene.

No officers were injured. The two officers who shot and killed Kasey were placed on leave after the shooting.

WRAL News spoke with community activists like Diondris Butler, founder of Resilient Advocates, who want to know if the shooting was necessary.

"If they had the body cameras on, we would be able to see exactly what happened and be able to see if it was justified or not," Butler said. "So it’s very, very important to me."

The Clinton Police Department has requested the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to conduct an investigation into the details of the shooting. The Department’s Internal Affairs Unit will also conduct an administrative investigation into the shooting.

All officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of these investigations.

A total of seven people were killed Thursday morning in Sampson County. Five people were shot and killed at a Sampson County home. Another body was found Thursday morning in Sampson County, and the sheriff's office is investigating it as a homicide. The two investigations are not connected.