BASSETT, Va. – Police say it was 24-year-old Johnnie D. Carter, of Henry County, who fired at deputies early Tuesday morning. Carter later died at the hospital after being shot.
Virginia State Police are investigating what they described as a deadly officer-involved shooting in Henry County on Tuesday morning.
The incident began at about 4 a.m. when state police say the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call about a man trying to force his way into a residence in the 3300 block of Philpott Drive in Bassett.
When he was unable to make entry, he began firing a handgun outside the residence, according to police.
"The people that were inside the residence were able to prevent the individual from getting in. They closed the door," Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry said.
As soon as Henry County sheriff’s deputies pulled up to the scene, state police report that the man began firing at their vehicles.
"All I can say is, there were multiple rounds fired and I will say that multiple rounds (were fired) from the suspect," Perry said.
He would not say how many shots, exactly, may have been fired or how many deputies fired shots.
Police say one of the deputies returned fire and hit the man, who was taken to Sova Health in Martinsville and later died.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone, the family of the deceased and the officers, and we ask the community as well if they would have their thoughts and prayers for them," Perry said.
No residents or sheriff’s deputies were injured during the incident.
"We feel at this time that the officers were in a situation where they had no other option," Perry said. "It was a very dangerous situation and they responded back."
The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Salem Division was at the scene for about 12 hours Tuesday conducting its investigation into the incident.
Perry said the incident has taken an emotional toll on his office.
"We have a lot of people, and they take pride in serving the community. It has left a mark," Perry said, getting choked up. "We take pride and we never want to hurt anyone."