NC man who shot at trooper on I-40 convicted of gun, drug charges
A North Carolina man has been convicted of drug and gun charges in a case that started with a high-speed chase in Orange County during which shots were fired at a State Highway Patrol trooper.
A federal court jury found Tyler Lloyd Grantz, 20, of Kernersville, guilty of possession with intent to distribute various drugs, possession of a stolen firearm and using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. He will be sentenced in May and faces at least 10 years in prison.
Last March 5, Trooper Evan Dix was trying to stop a 2008 GMC SUV that was going about 100 mph on Interstate 40, and the driver of the fleeing vehicle fired several shots at the trooper's cruiser, authorities said.
After the SUV crashed at the New Hope Church Road exit near Hillsborough, the driver fired several more shots at Dix before fleeing into some nearby woods. A manhunt involving at least 100 law enforcement officers, K9s and drones ensued, and Grantz was captured in the woods several hours later.
Both the SUV and a handgun found in the vehicle had been reported stolen, authorities said.
