NC Police Justified in Fatally Shooting Man Threatening Officers with Spear

Police said the man threw a trash can at officers and made a lunging movement toward them with a spear that was interpreted as an imminent threat.

Staff Writer
September 14, 2022

The Caldwell County, NC, district attorney announced Tuesday that a fatal officer-involved shooting of a man Friday in Hudson was justified.

James Preston Trexler Jr., 44, was shot and killed by police after calling officers to his home early Friday morning and threatening them with a spear, according to the Hudson Police Department.

Officers said they made two unsuccessful attempts to use less-lethal options to disarm Trexler, WSOC reports.

Police said Trexler threw a trash can at officers and made a lunging movement toward them with a spear that was interpreted as an imminent threat.

That’s when an officer shot Trexler and he died as a result of his wounds, police said.

About the Author
Staff Writer
Editorial
View Bio
Recommended
Maximizing Fleet Efficiency and Accountability with Traka Key Management Solutions
Sponsored
Maximizing Fleet Efficiency and Accountability with Traka Key Management Solutions
Banner Final Gettyimages 1310108875 170667a
Webinars
Staying Ahead of the Curve: Navigating Emerging Drugs for Law Enforcement
Banner Final Gettyimages 470407026 170667a
Webinars
How to Support More Effective De-Escalation and Use-of-Force Training
Web Graphic Thumbnail Rtcc Checklist 375x480
Build Your Real-Time Crime Center
Related Stories
Sgt. Nicholas M. Hunter of the Parma (OH) Police Department died after a medical emergency Monday. (Photo: Parma PD)
Patrol
Veteran Ohio Officer Dies on Way to Work
Still from body camera video shows officer applying tourniquet to Officer Tierney Tomburo's leg. (Photo: Las Vegas Metro PD)
Patrol
Vegas Officer Shot in Pelvis, Killed Her Attacker
Cincinnati Detective Joehonny Reese was suspended for repeating the n-word back to a white suspect. (Photo: Cincinnati FOP)
Patrol
Cincinnati FOP Demands Reinstatement of Officer Suspended Over Racial Slur
Harris County Precinct 3 Deputy Constable Deputy Omar Ursin was killed off duty in an apparent road rage shooting. (Photo: Harris County Constable Precinct 3 Office)
Patrol
Suspects in Killing of Off-Duty TX Deputy Constable were Out on Bond for Murder Charges
More in Patrol
Patrol
Murder of Chicago Officer Driving Home from Shift Will be Classified Line of Duty
The death of Officer Luis M. Huesca will be classified as line of duty. Huesca was driving home from his shift Sunday when he was slain in an apparent carjacking.
Chicago Officer Luis M. Huesca was murdered Sunday while he drove home from his shift. The department says the murder will be considered line of duty.
Patrol
New York Officer Shot in the Leg Last Week Faces Long Recovery
“The surgeons had to insert a rod to secure the broken femur, but were unable to remove all of the fragments of the bullet as they were too close to his femoral artery,” a supporter wrote on GoFundMe.
Patrol
California Motor Deputy Shot in Back at Intersection, Saved by Armor
Deputy Samuel Aispuro was in uniform and was riding a department-issued motorcycle at the time of the shooting. The round did not penetrate the vest, and he is in stable condition at a local hospital.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announces the arrest of a suspect in the shooting of a motorcycle patrol deputy. Deputy Samuel Aispuro was protected by his body armor during the Monday ambush.
Technology
Axon Introduces AI-Powered, Automated Police Reporting Tool
Agency trials have resulted in roughly one hour of time saved per day on paperwork, the company says. For every eight officers who use Draft One during their day, that translates to an extra eight-hour shift or more.
Officer using Draft One. The new Axon tool transcribes audio from the company's current body-worn cameras and uses artificial intelligence to produce a police report.
Patrol
Chicago Officer Shot and Killed Driving Home from Shift
Officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert just before 3 a.m. and found Officer Luis Huesca outside of his vehicle and wounded. He died at a local hospital.
Patrol
Texas Officer Critically Wounded at Domestic, Fighting for Life
Officer Kyle Hicks was responding to a domestic disturbance call at 12:32 a.m. Saturday at the. At the location a man and woman were involved in a disturbance with shots fired.
Corpus Christi, Texas, Police Officer Kyle Hicks was critically wounded at a domestic Saturday.
Patrol
Oklahoma Investigator Dies After On-Duty Medical Event
Investigator Brian Herbert, 56, was on the range during annual firearms qualification when he felt chest pains and lost consciousness.
Patrol
Idaho Deputy Shot and Killed During Traffic Stop
Boise Police said the suspect fled and was located at a residence in Boise less than an hour later, but was "uncooperative." Shortly before midnight, police said the suspect shot at officers, who returned fire.
Deputy Tobin Bolter of the Ada County (Idaho) Sheriff's Office was shot and mortally wounded Saturday. He died in the hospital Sunday.
Patrol
Albany Police Say Man who Shot Officer Killed Self
The officer wounded early Wednesday morning was Jonathan Damphier, police confirmed Thursday. Damphier has been with the department since 2021, and is recovering from a successful surgery.
Patrol
Memphis Officer Killed Last Week in Shootout May Have been Hit by Friendly Fire
"Although current information indicates friendly fire, we believe the 17-year-old’s reprehensible actions are still the real cause of Officer McKinney’s death..." the DA's office said in a statement.
Patrol
Tunnels to Towers Pays Off Mortgage for Slain New York Deputy’s Family
“On behalf of the CNY T2T crew, our condolences go out to the family, friends and fellow officers of Onondaga County Sherrifs Lt. Michael Hoosock and Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen,” Tunnels to Towers said.
Patrol
Investigators Believe New York Man Killed Officers Over Grudge
Christopher R. Murphy, 33, shot and killed Onondaga County Sheriff’s Lt. Michael Hoosock and Syracuse police Officer Michael Jensen Sunday night in Salina outside of the residence where Murphy lived with his parents.
Page 1 of 2354
Next Page