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KENANSVILLE — Last week, District Attorney Ernie Lee issued a statement regarding the use of deadly force by a deputy from the Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, which resulted in Joseph Ross Duncan Jr. being shot and injured on Jan. 23.
Lee indicated that after reviewing the deputy’s body camera footage and examining the investigation conducted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, he concluded that the deputy’s actions were justified in self-defense and no evidence suggested that the deputy acted inappropriately. Although the deputy did not sustain any injuries, his actions were deemed to be within his rights, and no criminal charges against him are warranted based on the circumstances revealed by the SBI investigation.
The deputy responded to a disturbance call at a residence on Howards Farm Road in Beulaville on the day of the incident, at around 4:15 a.m. Upon entering the dark residence with a flashlight, the deputy encountered Duncan, who appeared to be holding a knife.
According to the District Attorney’s office, the deputy drew his service weapon and aimed it at Duncan, who advanced toward him, forcing the deputy to back out of the house toward the street. As Duncan continued to approach, the deputy fired his weapon once, striking Duncan in the wrist.
Duncan was subsequently apprehended by other deputies who arrived shortly afterward, and emergency medical services treated him for his injury. The shooting occurred approximately 10 minutes after the deputy activated his body camera upon arriving at the scene.
“The deputy acted quickly to neutralize what he perceived as a threat,” Lee stated. State law permits the use of deadly force when an officer reasonably believes they are in imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm.
Duncan faces charges that include assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, resisting an officer, obstructing justice, and communicating threats.
