Officers still searching for suspect after 6-hour police standoff in Gaston County

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Officers in Gaston County are still looking for a suspect after they tried to find him during a six-hour standoff Sunday morning. They said the standoff escalated when someone fired a shot in their direction.

According to Capt. Matt Hensley, at 11:40 a.m., officers went to a home on Hollycrest Lane off Stanley Spencer Mountain Road to arrest 54-year-old Joel Scott Puckett. A bondsman told police that Puckett was in the area.

Search for suspect accused of firing at police underway in Gaston Co. (Courtesy of: Gaston County Police Department)

As police were walking up to the house, they heard a shot fired from somewhere outside of the residence. The round came so close to police that they had to take cover and request backup. It’s still not clear who fired the shot.

Officers then surrounded the home and called in the department’s emergency response team, as well as the SWAT team. Neighbors were told to stay in their homes and take cover.

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“Worrisome being that it is not something that we are accustomed to,” said neighbor Rebecca Revels.

Revels lives in one of the dozen or so houses on Hollycrest Lane.

“They were warning us to please go indoors and get where it would be safe,” she said.

Authorities combed through the area for about six hours. But on Monday, authorities said they believe Puckett had actually left the area by the time their search team got there.

Capt. Hensley told Channel 9 that Puckett is currently wanted for felony breaking and entering, three arrest orders for methamphetamine possession, and felony carrying a concealed weapon.

A homeowner told Channel 9′s Ken Lemon that Joel Puckett occasionally stayed in a tent on her land, but she doesn’t believe he was there Sunday.

Police combed the area for six hours before calling off the search. They also went to a home between Stanley and Mount Holly, where Puckett lived until last spring.

Police said they are no longer searching on foot the way they did Sunday, but they have officers actively looking for Puckett. Neighbors have been asked to stay on the lookout for Puckett and call the department if they see anything suspicious.

This is a developing story; check back at wsoctv.com for updates.

(WATCH BELOW: SWAT standoff ends at east Charlotte pawn shop)