Hailed a hero for saving clerk and woman in store
By Robert Jordan
Dunn Daily Record
CUMBERLAND COUNTY – An off-duty Dunn police officer is being hailed a hero after breaking up a domestic fight that led to a shootout at Han-Dee Hugo’s Tuesday night between Fayetteville and Linden.
Officer Joshua Elliott and the aggressor, later identified as Daniel Locklear, were injured in the firestorm of bullets. Both are in recovery.
Locklear arrived at the gas station at 7805 Ramsey St. with a woman around 10 p.m., according to a release from the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating the case.
“The female was visibly in distress and requested the clerk to call 911,” Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Mickey Locklear reported in the release. “While deputies were en route to the location, Locklear became increasingly hostile towards the female subject and eventually began to assault her.”
Elliott was inside the store when he witnessed the assault and “attempted to intervene. Locklear drew a handgun and began firing as he ran out of the store, and as a result, Elliott was struck. Elliott returned fire striking Locklear several times,” the release stated.
Officer Elliott was transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville where he was treated for his injuries and released.
Locklear was located later at an undisclosed location and transported to a hospital for treatment of serious injuries and remains hospitalized.
Once Locklear is released from the hospital, he will be charged with four counts each of attempted murder and committing an assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting serious injury with an intent to kill; and one count each of discharging a firearm into an occupied property, second-degree kidnapping, felonious possession of marijuana, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and assaulting a female, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.
“This is a prime example of why our officers train,” said Dunn Police Chief Cary A. Jackson. “Josh is an exemplary employee and I am very proud that he was able to protect the innocent people on that scene. Our focus now is to make certain he receives all the aftercare necessary to make him whole so he can return to duty when he is ready.”
Anyone with information about this investigation, can contact Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Detective R. Wolfe at 910-677-5464 or Crimestoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).
Above and beyond sir.
Good guy with a gun.
To protect and serve. Thank you officer 👮!
Great job officer. Prayers for a speedy recover. As far as Locklear goes shame you did not go to HELL then and there. You are not human to shoot a gun like that. A stray bullet could have hit anyone else as well, but I guess and animal like you could not care less! Again, Officer Joshua Elliott, thank you for being the great Police Officer you are. Come on over to Johnston County.