Suspect dies after officer-involved shooting in Monroe

MONROE, N.C. — The suspect in an officer-involved shooting in Monroe died Monday night, police said.

Officials identified him as 33-year-old Francisco Javier Montes-Hernandez. They say he was from Mexico but had been staying in the Monroe area.

“We heard a pow, the next we know, we looked out the window and there’s a bunch of cop cars out here,” said a neighbor who didn’t want her face shown.

She said she saw Monroe police officers Sunday night on Alda Street around 10 p.m.

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Channel 9 arrived at the scene shortly after, where evidence markers could be seen in the road near a bicycle.

On Monday, police confirmed the bike belonged to the suspect.

Lt. Morgan Malone said an officer had confronted the suspect, following a neighbor’s 911 call about an attempted home break-in.

Malone said the suspect pointed a gun at the officer, and the entire encounter only lasted 30 seconds.

“Despite multiple commands to drop the gun, the individual did not, which forced our officer to shoot him,” said Malone.

Police said the officer is on leave while the SBI investigates the shooting.

Malone did say the attempted break-in was a targeted attack.

“The homeowner has some type of relationship with this suspect,” said Malone. “I don’t know the nature of that relationship. That’s something the SBI is exploring.”

For the woman who stays in the area, that’s concerning.

“That’s kind of scary because you never know what’s going on in the neighborhood,” she said.

Police said the SBI did recover the suspect’s handgun at the scene.

This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com and watch Eyewitness News for updates.