Body camera video released from deadly police chase in Gaston County

This browser does not support the video element.

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Channel 9 obtained body camera video from a deadly police chase last month in Gaston County.

In the video, you can hear the driver of the car being chased, Joshua Soule, say, “Please don’t let nobody be hurt!”

One person was killed and another was seriously hurt when hit by Soule’s vehicle while walking on Rankin Avenue in Gastonia, officials said.

[PAST COVERAGE: Law enforcement holds community meeting about deadly Gaston Co. chase]

Officials said a deputy saw Soule driving erratically and suspected him of driving under the influence. They said when the deputy tried to stop him, Soule took off, starting a short chase through a neighborhood.

Investigators said Soule hit two people during the chase, killing 28-year-old Antrel Garnigan. Shawn Smith, 48, was critically hurt.

Joshua Soule

(Joshua Soule)

There was controversy surrounding this case with some community members and Smith's family, who claimed it was the deputy’s car that hit the men.

Soule believed he hit someone, which seems to contradict the accusation.

In the video, Soule says the brakes on his car didn’t work, and that’s why he didn’t stop when a deputy got behind him.

"My brakes didn't work,” Soule said in the bodycam video. “That's why I had to pull out, right."

The body cameras were activated after the authorities got out of their cars, officials said.

Investigators said the chase ended when Soule crashed his car and tried to run, but deputies caught him and took him into custody.

Officers could be seen pulling a plastic bag out of Soule's pocket.

"Oh my God. I think I, that I hit somebody,” Soule told deputies. “Did I hit somebody?"

Another deputy's body camera recorded their reaction at that crash scene.

"EMS is on the way," the deputy said.

"Man, y'all hit my (expletive) brother!" a witness said.

"We didn't hit him," the deputy said.

Soule was charged with second-degree murder, DWI and fleeing to elude.

>> Reading this story in our app? The new "Follow the Lead" feature allows you to tap the blue tag indicated with a '+' to subscribe to alerts on the very latest breaking news updates.