Deputy shot responding to domestic assault call; suspect in custody

CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. — A suspect is in custody following an hours-long standoff after a deputy was shot Thursday morning in Caldwell County, officials said.

The shooting, which happened as the deputy was responding to a domestic call, took place along Grace View Place in the Dudley Shoals community near Granite Falls.

Just after 1 a.m., deputies responded to the home after Kaylinn Barnes called 911, saying a 9-year-old child from next door came to her home and told her that his mother was being assaulted by his stepdad.

“He was begging me to call the police,” she said. “He said that his stepdad had hit his mom and that he needed help.”

When deputies arrived they knocked on the door. After nobody answered, they forced their way into the home and that’s when they were fired upon, according to officials.

Deputies returned fire and during the shootout, one deputy was hit in the leg. He was quickly evacuated from the home and taken to a hospital. He has since been released.

The victim of the domestic assault was able to run from the home and get away before deputies arrived, but said an 18-month-old toddler was still inside.

Law enforcement set up a perimeter around the home and the suspect, 29-year-old Christopher Payne, who had barricaded himself in a bedroom, eventually surrendered around 7:30 a.m. The 18-month-old was not hurt, police said.

Neighbors told Channel 9 there had been arguments at the home in the past. They said they were thankful the deputy wasn’t seriously injured.

“It’s terrible, terrible,” said neighbor Sandra Oakes. “I mean, they put their life on the line for us. They shouldn’t be shot. They shouldn’t be in that position.”

Neighbor John Stiles said he and his wife took cover after they heard several shots coming from the home.

“Yes because these are thin walls and bullets could have went through there,” Stiles said. “So I made my wife come in here and lay and it escalated.”

Payne has been charged with assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm, felony child abuse and three counts of possession of a firearm by a felon. His bond was set at $10 million.

He was also served with an outstanding order for arrest for failure to appear on an unrelated case of assault on a female, communicating threats, and second-degree trespassing.

In 2013, Channel 9 was in court in Catawba County when Payne was accused of robbing a Burger King in Hickory twice in less than a month. He was sentenced to 7.5 years of prison time for those robberies.

The North Carolina SBI is assisting with the deputy-involved shooting investigation.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

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3 persons of interest arrested after police officer shot and killed (NCD)

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