A robbery suspect who was holding hostages inside a Gaston County convenience store Thursday afternoon is dead in Cherryville Police officer involved shooting in Bessemer City.
Investigations connotes that a female employee of an HVAC business located on Earl Road in Cleveland County was robbed at gunpoint. After which the armed man stole the woman’s cellphone, cash, and a wedding ring and then fled the scene. Detectives tracked the unidentified suspects location through the stolen phone.
Multiple law enforcement officials responded to the scene and encountered the suspect and a police chase ensued which ended with a crash on Highway 279 near Dick Beam Road, Gaston County. Officials say the suspect then fled on foot, prompting the Cherryville Police officers firing their weapon. After investigations officers arrived to the Creekside Grill on Tryon Courthouse Road at Coho Road in Bessemer City, and found the suspect inside the apartment holding several unidentified people hostage.
Several shots were reportedly fired at the scene, fatally striking the suspect. No officers or hostages were hit by gunfire and SBI is investigating the incident. The names of those involved have not been released.