Deputies arrest man wanted for shooting at police, school bus

SHELBY, N.C. — A man accused of shooting at officers and leading a chase from Lincoln County into Cleveland County has been arrested.

On Wednesday, officers with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office spotted a car that was reported stolen and got behind it on Highway 18 in Lincoln, near Vale. It happened just around 4 p.m.

According to the deputies, 29-year-old Jeremy Aaron Huffman started shooting at them with a handgun out of the driver’s side window, so they returned fire. The suspect kept driving and ended up in Cleveland County.

Huffman is accused of also firing his gun, striking a Cleveland County school bus that had three kids onboard.

Nobody was reported to be hurt in the shooting.

Deputies with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office picked up the chase.

Shelby police ended up using stop sticks near the Walmart Distribution Center, and the suspect kept driving before hitting an embankment and chain-linked fence on Highway 74 near Polkville Road.

A woman inside the car surrendered to police, but authorities were still looking for Huffman after he jumped out and ran away.

Thursday morning, deputies announced that Huffman had been taken into custody.

The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office says it got a call around 7 a.m. saying someone who matched Huffman’s description was at a hotel on Highway 74, and he was reportedly going into the woods near the hotel. Deputies set up a perimeter around the area, and they spotted him running across Highway 74 toward E. Marion Street.

The sheriff’s office says Huffman was arrested after a short foot chase.

Police said Huffman had a 9mm handgun in his possession when he was arrested.

Sources told Channel 9 that he was arrested near First Broad River Bridge, which is a tenth of a mile from where his vehicle crashed.

The woman in the vehicle with Huffman has been identified as Jennifer Hughes.

According to the sheriff’s office, Huffman and Hughes are facing the following charges between them:

• Five counts of attempted first-degree murder
• Possession of a firearm by a felon
• Discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle
• Felony obstruction
• Possession of a controlled substance
• Felony flee to elude
• Felony resist delay & obstruct
• Misdemeanor larceny in two counties
• Felony larceny of a motor vehicle

Huffman is being held without bond for the charges out of Cleveland County. Hughes is being held on bonds totaling over $50,000.

(WATCH: ‘Habitual felon’ sentenced for shooting at CMPD officers during foot chase)

‘Habitual felon’ sentenced for shooting at CMPD officers during foot chase

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