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Sheriff: 'Officers feared for their safety' before shooting man in Monroe

By Gina Esposito, wsoctv.com and Tina Terry, wsoctv.com
By Gina Esposito, wsoctv.com and Tina Terry, wsoctv.com

MONROE, N.C. — Four Union County deputies and one Monroe police officer are on paid administrative leave following a deadly officer-involved shooting late Tuesday night in Monroe.

[IMAGES: SBI investigating deadly officer-involved shooting in Monroe]

According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy spotted a white Pontiac Bonneville just before midnight traveling near Five Points in Monroe with no tail lights. The officer also believed the driver, 25-year-old Joshua Stubbs, might have been intoxicated.

The deputy tried to pull the car over but Stubbs sped away and a brief chase ensued.

Stubbs drove down Walkup Avenue and onto Roosevelt Boulevard before pulling into the Dairy Queen parking lot.

Authorities said Stubbs then got out of the car holding a sawed-off shotgun. That’s when a deputy fired several rounds from inside his patrol car through his front windshield.

Officials said Stubbs then ran to the Metro PCS a short distance away and entered the store, where a worker was inside. That worker ran out but Stubbs remained barricaded inside.

"Officers made contact with him through voice microphones, loud speakers, tried to get him to come out and put down the weapon," Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey said.

After about 20 minutes, Stubbs walked out the front door holding the sawed-off shotgun. Authorities said he refused to obey commands to drop the gun and officers shot him.

"When he come to the door, shotgun was cocked, and brought to a level that officers feared for their safety and they fired," Cathey said.

Stubbs was taken to Carolinas Healthcare-Union where he was pronounced dead.

Cathey said Stubbs had been living with his brother in Monroe. Officials said Stubbs was also carrying a knife.

Cathey added that Stubbs did not have much of a criminal history and authorities were still trying to figure out why Stubbs ran from police.

No officers were injured in the shooting. Officials said the deputies involved were not wearing body cameras but the Monroe officer was.

A community member, Isaias Perez recorded a Facebook Live video of the incident and shared the video with Channel 9.

The State Bureau of Investigation has been called to investigate the shooting.

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