Three North Carolina Deputies Wounded, One Critically in Former Soldier's Rampage

Michaelis reportedly made laps around Crystal Springs Mobile Home Park in a white Chevrolet S-10 pickup as he reloaded what Butler said was an AR-15 and emptied 30-round magazines into a New Moon Drive home, where his son and wife sought safety.

A former soldier shot and killed his father-in-law and a 10-year-old boy and wounded three officers after a domestic dispute set off waves of gunfire at a mobile home park outside of Fayetteville, N.C., Wednesday, authorities say.

Andrew Michaelis, 41, was later shot to death during a shootout with officers in a residential neighborhood, Cumberland County Sheriff Moose Butler told the Fayetteville Observer.

Michaelis reportedly made laps around Crystal Springs Mobile Home Park in a white Chevrolet S-10 pickup as he reloaded what Butler said was an AR-15 and emptied 30-round magazines into a New Moon Drive home, where his son and wife sought safety.

Michaelis' father-in-law, 61-year-old Gary Simpson, and Simpson's grandson, 10-year-old Trekwan Covington, were killed after the gunfire erupted shortly after 7 a.m.

Between Michaelis' second and third pass, deputies arrived at the home off Crystal Springs Road. But Michaelis returned moments later and fired at the deputies, striking two and leaving one in critical condition.

Deputies chased Michaelis and returned fire at the former soldier. Michaelis was found shot to death behind a home.

One of the wounded officers was taken into emergency surgery at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and remained in the intensive care unit. He has not been identified.

Another bullet glanced off a second deputy's belt but didn't injure the officer, Butler said.

More close calls came later as bullets tore through a deputy's cruiser and shattered the window of North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper's vehicle. The trooper suffered a minor injury from flying shrapnel.

Another bullet, Butler said, grazed a deputy's head as officers pursued the gunman along the tree-lined path.

 

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