'He just lost it': Neighbor says Oxford man lost job prior to hours-long shootout, death by suicide

More details are being released about a K-9 officer and his dog, who were shot during a standoff between Oxford Police and a barricaded suspect that shot an officer Friday evening.

The standoff finally came to an end early Saturday morning, when police say units determined the suspect inside had died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

During the standoff, a police officer and his K-9 were shot. Police have not released the name of the police officer who was shot, but friends of the officer say the officer was Corporal Daniel Allen. Friends say Allen was shot in the leg. He was airlifted to Duke Hospital, where he is stable.

Allen, who is a 5-year-veteran of the agency, was the officer to initially respond to the disturbance. He was met with a rapid succession of gunfire and was able to take cover and wait for backup.

The suspect continued to shoot at the police vehicles, hitting Allen's K-9 unit Halligan, who was shot multiple times while inside the vehicle, according to police.

Both K-9 Halligan and Allen are being treated in hospitals, and remain in stable condition.

Neighbors say the incident started around 6:20 p.m. on Prospect Avenue. It ended hours later around 3:30 a.m.

Neighbors describe hearing gunshots, sheltering in their homes

Juanita Cozart lives on Prospect Avenue and said it sounded like firecrackers when she heard the shots.

"I heard a series of rapid, I guess they were shots," Cozart said. "At first, I thought they were firecrackers. They were actually that fast and that loud."

Cozart said she called neighbors after seeing police cars. She said neighbors told her to lock up and stay inside her home.

Neighbors told WRAL News that a man started acting erratic. A neighbor asked him if he was ok, he ran inside, broke out a window and then started shooting. Residents then sheltered in their homes, neighbors said.

Neighbors said the man had no history of violent behavior and lives alone.

A few blocks away, the Granville Health System at 1010 College St. was put on lockdown, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent released a written statement on Friday night.

"We have faith in our first responders that they will be able to get the situation under control, and we pray without additional injury," Sergent wrote. "We ask that all concerned keep those who are responding in their thoughts and pray for a peaceful resolution."

Neighbors like Valerie described the moment she heard the gunshots.

"My heart went down hit the ground. We were on the ground crawling and rolling and I didn't know what to do," said Valerie. "It was like something we saw on TV."

Providing WRAL with a video she took near the scene, she describes hearing over a dozen shots.

'He just lost it': Neighbors say suspect had no history of violence, loved to garden

One neighbor told WRAL News she knows the suspect and his name is Jason Newton.

She says she spoke to him not long before the chaotic scene unfolded, when he began busting out windows and firing at the officers.

Another neighbor, who says she went to high school with Newton, described this as "out of character" for the man she knew.

"I came around here, and they said, 'It's Jason.' And I was like, 'What did Jason do?' And they said, 'He was stressed out. He lost his job. He just...he just lost it,'" she said.

Those who spoke with WRAL News said Newton was acting erratic before he ran inside and started shooting. They say he had no history violence, and that he lived alone and liked to garden and care for his chickens.

"He was a cool dude. He could really play baseball. He was a nice guy... a nice guy," said his neighbor. "I hope it don't end ugly."

Neighbors tell WRAL they tried to speak with Newton as he was breaking the windows in his house before he opened fire.

In the morning light, you can see neighbors' homes and cars are full of bullet holes. Newton's home has shattered windows, broken blinds and even a guitar lying on the ground outside his home.

"I can't believe he did that because he's always been nice," said his neighbor. "He's always talked to me. I just can't believe he went off."

Officer shot in the leg was Employee of the Month

The Oxford Police Department had just recognized Allen as Employee of the Month in April, 2021

In a social media post, the department showed appreciation for the officer and told him to keep up the good work.

"We are very proud to announce that Officer Daniel Allen was selected as the City of Oxford's Employee of the Month for April!" says Oxford Police Department.