ALBEMARLE, N.C. — The Albemarle Police Department obtained warrants Tuesday for Jeremiah McDougald, 32, of Broadway, North Carolina after he allegedly shot at an officer in his patrol car on Sunday.
(Jeremiah Devon McDougald)
The former Marine turned Albemarle police officer said his military training kicked in when McDouglad shot at his patrol car with a high-powered rifle Sunday afternoon.
Police said Officer Blake Evans was trying to stop a stolen black Lexus when McDougald stood up through the sunroof and started firing at him.
“I dipped down as far as I could go, deep inside as far as I could go,” Evans said. “From what I was taught in the military, make yourself small.”
The patrol car was hit three times, including the windshield. Evans, who ran off the road and wrecked, was not hurt.
The warrants issued are for:
- Felony attempted first-degree murder
- Felony possession of a firearm by a felon
- Two counts of felony discharge a weapon in occupied moving vehicle
- Felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill
- Felony assault with deadly weapon on government official and misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon.
"It's very unusual for someone to blatantly and publicly fire at an officer," Bowen said. "Apparently, they don’t have any regard for our life or anybody else in the public’s life."
Police said it started when they were called to a possible shooting on T.E. White Drive near Elizabeth Avenue around noon. Officers said they found an unoccupied 2002 Chevy truck with a bullet hole in the passenger side.
A short time later, police said the driver of the truck showed up but didn't give any information about the shooting.
However, witnesses told police they saw someone in the Lexus shooting at the truck.
Officers located the car on Highway 24/27 near Taco Bell, and as soon as police turned on their blue lights, the shooter opened fire.
"We are very fortunate, very thankful that the officer didn’t get struck, or even killed, because they were using a high-powered rifle, which is extremely dangerous," Bowen said. "Handguns are dangerous, but rifles even more so. It was just a dangerous situation."
A husband and father himself, Evans told Channel 9 he was thinking of those around him as he stared down the barrel of an AK-47.
“I knew there were children all around me, and these people were shooting at me and they didn't care. Me being a father, that upset me,” Evans said.
Police said an innocent person behind the patrol car was grazed by a bullet.
The car was found in Moore County, three miles west of Carthage.
Moore County Sheriff Neil Godfrey said a shotgun was found inside the car and the AK-47 was located a short distance away.
The sheriff said deputies were setting up stop sticks when the occupants of the car saw it from a distance, pulled over and ran into the woods.
Officials said several agencies, including a Highway Patrol helicopter and bloodhounds, searched the area with no luck.
“Number one, please quit shooting at people. Number two, do the right thing and turn yourself in,” Bowen said soon after the shooting.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Albemarle police at 704-984-9500.
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