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Catawba County deputy acted lawfully in deadly shooting, DA says

HICKORY, N.C. — District attorney David Learner announced Tuesday that a Catawba County deputy acted lawfully when he shot and killed a man in November 2016.

The Catawba County Sheriff's Office said members of the narcotics division had been conducting a drug investigation on 15th Street NE in Hickory, when they encountered 41-year-old Ray Valentine.

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Authorities said Valentine was shot and killed when he attempted to flee in his vehicle and hit a patrol car, heavily damaging it.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation was called in to investigate and interviewed witnesses, photographed the scene and collected evidence. Body-camera footage from officers arriving at the incident was also collected and examined by agents.

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SBI agents presented Learner with their findings in the case.

Learner said based on the evidence, deputies had immediately identified themselves when they arrived at the scene and commanded Valentine to put his vehicle in park and turn it off. But Valentine put the car in reverse and began backing up slowly, Learner said.

According to witness statements given to the SBI, officers once again commanded that Valentine stop and put the car in park. Valentine refused and suddenly accelerated and violently rammed two Catawba County Sheriff’s Office vehicles, including one that was occupied by an investigator, according to the DA.

Learner said that’s when a deputy fired his weapon, killing Valentine.

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