Manhunt leads to third arrest in North Carolina trooper's shooting

WILSON, N.C. — Law enforcement agencies said a third suspect is in custody, accused of shooting North Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper D.C. Harrell on Monday evening.

We have received word that a State Trooper has been shot in Wilson County. Suspect is on the run. Trooper is being transported to the hospital with condition unknown. Praying for the trooper! Praying that 2019 gets better. We can't stay on this path.
— Pitt County Sheriff (@PittSheriff) January 14, 2019

The shooting happened around 5:15 p.m. on N.C. Highway 42, about 8 miles northeast of Wilson. Local news outlets reported the patrol cruiser had a dozen bullet holes in the windshield, as well as front-end damage.

Two of the three suspects, 40-year-old William Boswell and 25-year-old Bryan Mullins, were taken into custody Monday evening. Around 12 a.m., officials arrested the third suspect, 36-year-old John Jones, in a wooded area off Cattail Road near Weaver Road.

(Jones, Boswell

and

Mullins)

Jones has been charged in the shooting, which happened on Sharon Acres Road in Elm City. Jones has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injuries and assault on a law enforcement officer.

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Boswell and Mullins have been charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle. They were booked into the Wilson County Detention under a $15,000.00 secure bond.

Wilson County Sheriff Calvin Woodard Jr. said multiple law enforcement agencies joined the Highway Patrol in searching for the suspects.

(Trooper Harrell)

State Highway Patrol said Harrell was transported to the hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

Officials said Harrell is a five-year veteran and was assigned to Wilson County. He is the son of retired Sergeant L. C. Harrell and the grandson of retired Trooper T. C. Cherry.

"This needless assault provides another reminder of the perils law enforcement officers face each day," Colonel Glenn McNeill Jr. said, commander of the State Highway Patrol. "I would ask everyone to keep Trooper Harrell's family and our entire organization in their thoughts and prayers."

No other information has been released.

Associated Press contributed to this report.

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