ROCKINGHAM, N.C. — The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the SBI are investigating a death that happened Thursday night near the city of Rockingham.
After receiving reports from neighbors, Channel 9 first reached out to the SBI public affairs office with questions about whether the death was tied to an officer-involved shooting. The SBI confirmed that the agency was involved in the investigation of a fatal officer-involved shooting, but that it did not have further information to provide.
Upon further investigation, Richmond County Sheriff James Clemmons told Channel 9 one of his deputies, not a Rockingham Police officer, was the first to respond to the scene. Clemmons said the deputies found a person suffering from injuries relating to fireworks, and called for help.
We contacted the SBI again and a spokesperson then verified what Sheriff Clemmons had said, saying field agents clarified there had not been an officer-involved shooting in the case.
No shots were fired at any point, Clemmons said.
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The death investigation centers around what happened with the fireworks.
None of the agencies involved have identified the victim in the case.