13-year-old killed in arrest attempt after grandmother’s homicide—Sheriff

A 13-year-old boy suspected of killing his grandmother was shot and killed by law enforcement during an arrest attempt on Thursday in North Carolina, according to local authorities.

The incident followed a homicide investigation that began earlier that day in Hoke County after deputies found 68-year-old Connie Linen dead inside her home, according to a press release from the Hoke County Sheriff‘s Office (HCSO) on Friday.

Newsweek reached out to the HCSO and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) by email Saturday for more information.

Why It Matters

The incident highlighted challenges surrounding law enforcement responses to minors accused of serious crimes as well as the aftermath of family violence.

What To Know

HCSO deputies responded to a wellness check at the 100 block of Pearce Place in Raeford, North Carolina, around 9:20 a.m. after two people called 911 regarding an unresponsive woman inside the residence, the HCSO said in its press release.

Emergency responders pronounced Linen dead at the scene after their arrival. Specific details on the circumstances of her death were not released immediately.

The HCSO said the 68 year old’s death was classified as a homicide and quickly identified the victim’s 13-year-old grandson, referred to in its press release as J.A., as the suspect. The Hoke County District Attorney’s Office completed secured-custody paperwork formally charging the juvenile with first-degree murder before multiple law enforcement agencies went to arrest him.

Deputies located the teenager inside a vehicle reportedly stolen from his grandmother and parked behind an abandoned mobile home in Cameron, North Carolina. When approached, the boy fled on foot across the street and into a wooded area before he picked up a two-by-four piece of lumber and charged toward a Lee County deputy, local news station ABC11 reported.

The deputy responded by firing his weapon and fatally striking the teenager who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The NCSBI has taken over review of the fatal shooting, which is standard in officer-involved deaths.

What People Are Saying

Hoke County Sheriff Roderick Virgil said in a press release on Friday: “This has been a tragic and emotional situation for everyone involved. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Ms. Linen, as well as the family of the juvenile. We ask that our community come together with compassion and understanding as we all process this difficult event.”

Neighbor Deborah Decker told ABC11 about what she saw: “Police cars all lit up and a bunch of the cars and they had the yellow tape all the way around the house going across the street and nobody was allowed to leave or come.”

Clifford Covill, who lives across the street from Linen, told ABC11: “Everybody seemed pretty happy. I can’t even imagine how this happened truthfully,” he said. “I never once saw any of the kids angry about anything. They just seemed like happy, normal kids.”

What Happens Next?

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is also participating in the fact-finding process, as questions remain regarding the confrontation that led to the use of lethal force.

Authorities have requested that anyone with additional information contact Detective K. Locklear of the HCSO at 910-875-5111.