Report: Raleigh officer shot in chest, saved by bulletproof vest in exchange with robbery suspect
Raleigh police on Wednesday released a preliminary report and detailed timeline into last week's officer-involved shooting near New Bern Avenue. It details how one officer was shot in the chest during an exchange of gunfire with a robbery suspect.
The report was released Wednesday evening from Raleigh Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown to Raleigh City Manager Ruffin Hall. Two senior officers — S.M. Pekich and M.P. Brown — who were involved in the incident have been placed on administrative duty "pending the completion of the criminal and administrative investigations," the report states. That is standard procedure when an officer is involved in a shooting.
The State Bureau of Investigation continues its independent criminal investigation and will present the completed investigation to Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman for review. Raleigh detectives also are continuing to investigate the actions of David Tylek Atkinson, 24, who was involved in the armed robbery and was shot and killed. Raleigh Police's Office of Professional Standards is also conducting its own investigation.
Officials also released dash camera and body-worn camera video of the incident. The video was obtained after a petition was filed in Wake County Superior Court to authorize the release of the video. Judge Graham Shirley granted the city's petition on May 18.
Raleigh police released a timeline of events leading up to the shooting:
- Police responded at 7:18 p.m. to a report of a convenience store being robbed at 2120 New Bern Ave.
- Several officers responded to the location, including Senior Officer Pekich and Senior Officer Brown. They were in full uniform in a marked patrol vehicle.
- Pekich and Brown turned onto Farris Court and were pointed toward the direction of the robbery suspect. Brown got out of the vehicle and ran toward Atkinson after seeing him. Pekich got out of the vehicle and began speaking with a bystander.
- Atkinson drew his weapon and fired at Brown, striking him in the chest. The bullet was stopped by Brown's bullet-proof vest. Brown returned fire as Atkinson ran across the parking lot and continued to point his gun at Brown.
Pekich recognized that the shots had come from two different weapons. He then saw Atkinson running across the parking lot while Brown was pursuing him with his gun pointed at Atkinson. Pekich fired at Mr. Atkinson, who continued to run from both officers. Brown fired his weapon again and Atkinson fell to the ground, dropping the handgun as well as the stolen money and merchandise he had been carrying.
- Pekich secured Atkinson, provided medical assistance and called for an ambulance. Brown said an officer had been shot. He got into a nearby patrol vehicle and was driven to WakeMed.
- Atkinson was transported via ambulance to WakeMed, where he died.
