‘Use caution’: BOLO issued for Boone shooter days before deadly standoff

A “Be On The Lookout” radio message was issued to police officers for the man accused of killing his mother, stepfather and two deputies in Boone -- days before the deadly shootings happened.

Channel 9 obtained law enforcement scanner audio from Sunday, where an officer can be heard telling agencies in the North Carolina High Country to be on the lookout for a silver 2016 Toyota Highlander driven by 32-year-old Isaac Barnes.

We spoke with the sheriff in Avery County, who said a family member of Barnes came to their office to make a report about the suspect over the weekend.

According to the sheriff, the family member said Barnes had made threats against them and stole some things. The sheriff told Channel 9 that they told Barnes’ family member to reach out to Watauga County because that’s where they believe the stolen property ended up.

The B.O.L.O. was issued as deputies tried to find him.

(Click the video below to listen to the B.O.L.O.)

BOLO: Watauga County suspect 0430 Wata Dispatch w police lights

The reporting officer can then be heard saying Barnes is armed and threatening to carry out an attack on the community.

“Subject is armed, threatening to perform a mass shooing,” the officer says. “If located, use caution.”

After repeating a description of Barnes and his SUV, the officer can be heard saying, “Watauga’s advising the subject has threatened his family. Also has multiple firearms.”

Three days later, Sgt. Chris Ward and K-9 Deputy Logan Fox, along with another deputy, were called to a home on Hardaman Circle in Boone to perform a welfare check after Barnes’ stepfather didn’t show up for work.

When they went into the house, both Ward and Fox were shot by Barnes. They did not survive.

When the standoff ended, deputies went inside the home and discovered Barnes’ mother and stepfather had also been killed.

Barnes was found dead inside the home from what deputies believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Memorial grows outside Watauga County Sheriff’s Office for 2 fallen deputies

Cox Media Group