Salisbury Police Chief Defends Officers' Actions In Deadly Shooting

The state is investigating a deadly police-involved shooting in Salisbury as friends set up a memorial for the man killed at a Hall Street apartment complex.

Police said four men robbed a woman at a convenience store at the intersection of Jake Alexander Boulevard and Mooresville Road and they tracked the vehicle involved in the robbery to a nearby apartment complex.

Investigators said when they knocked on the door of the apartment nearest the car, 20-year-old Al Simmons Jr. ran out the back door and around the side of the apartment complex. Police said he fired shots at officers, forcing them to fire back. Simmons was struck multiple times and died at the scene.

One officer said one of Simmons’ shots came so close to hitting him that he could hear the bullet whiz past his ear.

Salisbury police Chief Mark Wilhelm said he’s saddened by what happened, but he believes his officers’ lives were in danger and they had no choice but to shoot back.

“When it happens in your department, it really hits home that we could be preparing for a funeral for one of our officers rather than investigating the fact that they shot someone,” he said.

Bishop Kevin Bost said he knew Simmons well and he’s disappointed by his death.

“If you're running from an officer, give yourself up. Don't take it to the point where something like this has got to happen. We're praying for the family, that they make it through it," he said.

Agents from the State Bureau of Investigation are looking into the shooting but Wilhelm said he has no reason to believe his officers did anything wrong.

“Bottom line is it does happen here. It can and will. We're very fortunate no one died on our side. It's unfortunate they had to take the life of someone else,” he said.

The officers involved in the shooting are on administrative leave, per department protocol.

Police said they are still trying to identify the three other men involved in the robbery. Simmons leaves behind four children.

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