Salisbury bank robber who led police on chase shot dead by officer

SALISBURY, N.C. — A bank robber who was shot by a Salisbury police officer Thursday has died.

Police said Jerick Raheem Gray held up the First National Bank on East Innes Street in Salisbury around 12:30 p.m. Thursday

Police said Gray, of High Point, didn't flash his knife in the bank and his exit was quiet.

"We never heard any tires screeching. We never heard anything. It was calm,” nearby resident Kenny Park said.

Officers spotted Gray's truck and began a chase that reached speeds exceeding 100 mph. The pursuit ended on Mendenhall Street in Thomasville when officers used a device to flatten the truck's tires.

Gray got out of the truck and tried to run into Anderson R/C Hobby Shop, according to authorities.

"I heard my brother scream my name, so I go running up front and there was a lot of commotion outside the front door," co-owner Matt Anderson said.

Wesley Anderson confronted the suspect to stop him from entering the store where there were several elderly customers. Gray stabbed him multiple times.

"At this point, me and David were holding the door back,” Matt Anderson said. “(The) dude still pulling as hard as he can -- cops hollering at him, 'He's not putting the knife down.'"

Police then confronted Gray and used Tasers to try to take him into custody. Police said the Tasers didn't work, so Officer Christopher Schenk, of the Salisbury Police Department, shot Gray, who was still holding the knife.

"He [Schenk] positioned himself in a manner that it did not appear as though he was going to place anybody else in jeopardy,” Salisbury Police Chief Jerry Stokes said.

"We heard the gunshot," Matt Anderson said. "We were right on the back side of the door so we were behind him. They gave him every opportunity they could to keep the incident from escalating."

Family members said the knife missed Wesley Anderson’s heart by an inch. He's expected to make a full recovery.

"We had three elderly people right inside the store and no telling what that guy would have done,” Matt Anderson said.

Police said there was a pregnant woman in the car with Gray. She was treated at the hospital. Police said they're still trying to determine if she was an accomplice or a victim.

The State Bureau of Investigation has been called in to investigate the shooting and Schenk has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure. Schenk has been with the Salisbury Police Department since 2007.

The officers involved had body cameras.

Cox Media Group