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On January 9, 2025, at 1:05pm, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from an individual stating they were threatened with a firearm at a residence in Chocowinity, NC.  The suspect was described as a 19-year-old white male wearing a brown jacket, blue jeans and black shoes.  The suspect was walking towards Carrow Rd. armed with a loaded .22 caliber firearm.

Deputies responded to the area and with assistance from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, located the suspect who was later identified as Alec Edward Shaw of Pilot Mountain, NC.

Deputies observed Alec Shaw carrying a rifle and gave him loud verbal commands to drop the weapon.  Shaw refused to comply and began firing at law enforcement officers, forcing the officers to take cover.  Shaw fled from officers behind a building on Highway 33 West.  Beaufort County Sheriff’s Deputies and members from North Carolina State Highway Patrol established a perimeter at the building and continuously gave loud verbal commands for Shaw to drop his weapon.
Shaw fired again from behind the building at officers.  After being fired upon, and after Shaw repeatedly refused to drop his weapon, a member of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office was forced to return fire, fatally wounding Shaw with a single shot. EMS was staged close by and arrived moments after the scene was secured.  EMS transported Mr. Shaw to ECU Health Beaufort where life saving measures were unsuccessful.

No other individuals were injured in the incident. The Deputy involved in the shooting was placed on Administrative Leave and the SBI’s investigation is ongoing.