A man was killed in a reported confrontation with an officer Monday night (November 18). Shortly after 8:30 p.m. Monday, deputies with the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a person threatening suicide at a residence on Rifle Range Road. When deputies arrived they encountered an adult male armed with a firearm.
That person, later identified as Michael Rose, threatened his own life with that firearm and refused to allow deputies to speak with him. During that time deputies were able to assist an elderly female in leaving the residence safely. Catawba County’s Special Tactics and Response (STAR) and Crisis Intervention and De-escalation teams responded to assist deputies as efforts continued to make contact with Rose. An involuntary commitment order was issued at approximately 9:30 p.m. instructing deputies to transport Rose to an area hospital.
Attempts to make contact with Rose continued until approximately 1:00 a.m. when STAR Team members heard what they believed to be a gunshot fired inside the Rifle Range residence. STAR Team members then noticed smoke coming from that residence. STAR Team members then entered the residence in an effort rescue Rose. During that time Rose fired a weapon at STAR Team members who returned fire. Rose was killed during that exchange. There were no reports of any officers being injured.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is investigating this incident. The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office is fully cooperating with that investigation.
Story: Rob Eastwood-WHKY