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3 police officers shot, 2 people dead during hours-long standoff outside High Point home

HIGH POINT, N.C. — Three North Carolina police officers were shot and wounded by a man who barricaded himself in a home in an hours-long standoff Friday, authorities said. The officers’ injuries were not life-threatening.

High Point police Lt. Matt Truitt told reporters the standoff began after 11 p.m. Thursday when an officer on patrol heard gunshots and approached a house on foot where a man was seen with a rifle.

The man, who’s believed to live at the house, retreated inside and barricaded himself as more officers arrived, Truitt said.

“He ended up retreating back into the house, and we ended up having a barricaded subject,” Truitt said.

A tactical team arrived and surrounded the house on West English Road.

Police warned neighbors to go back in their houses.

“And everybody started running,” neighbor Laporscha Spears said.

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The man fired the rifle and hit three officers, Truitt said.

“The gentleman who was in the home began firing on officers and three of our tact officers were struck by gunfire,” Truitt said.

Police used flash bangs to disorient the shooter who they said continued to sporadically fire the gun.

Truitt told reporters the standoff ended in the late morning but did not immediately offer further information about how it concluded.

“It’s very unusual if there’s that many officers that have to come out to somebody’s residence,” neighbor James Wilder said. “Normally, not too much happens.”

The name of the suspect, who died in the home, was not immediately released. A woman was also found dead inside.

Truitt said the wounded officers were “doing well” and the wounds were not life-threatening. One officer needs surgery, he said.

“My heart and my thoughts are with the officers,” neighbor Tiffany Crawford said. “And I hope that they are alright, because they do serve our country, and they do a good job.”

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.