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DA: No charges for Durham deputy who shot woman pointing gun at officers outside her home

Durham County's district attorney on Monday said a deputy with the Durham County Sheriff's Office was acting reasonably when he fatally shot a woman in January.

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By
Jessica Patrick
, WRAL senior multiplatform producer
BAHAMA, N.C. — Durham County's district attorney on Monday said a deputy with the Durham County Sheriff's Office was acting reasonably when he fatally shot a woman in January.
Stephanie Wilson, 28, was armed with a shotgun on Jan. 4 when deputies were called to a home in the 400 block of John Jones Road in Bahama around 3:30 p.m. for a report of breaking and entering, according to the sheriff's office.

Wilson, who was identified as the 911 caller, had told the operator she believed someone was trying to kick in her door.

According to a report, 10 officers responded in multiple law enforcement vehicles and parked in the driveway. According to a report, officers were concerned about two German Shepherd dogs and asked the 911 communications center to ask the caller to restrain the dogs.

One officer noticed Wilson holding a long, black gun and observed her shouting "gun" to the surrounding deputies, according to the report. The deputies took shelter behind their vehicles, and two officers ordered Wilson to drop the gun.

Investigators later determined that, prior to deputies' arrival, Wilson had used Facebook Live to film herself loading the shotgun. According to reports, Wilson put her phone down but left the livestream going, telling viewers she was in a "standoff with police."

In the video, which continues during the encounter with officers, Wilson cannot be seen, but she can be heard saying “Y’all gonna have to shoot me, dawg" and “I’m not fixing to put this gun down," according to the report. She can also be heard telling deputies she will not shoot them as she is racking the shotgun in the audio.

One sergeant described the scene as “a lot going on at one time" as deputies tried to talk to Wilson. Wilson ended the livestream when she received a call from the 911 communications center.

Wilson communicated she was upset and agitated then lifted and pointed the shotgun at deputies, according to the report, which states, "The final time Wilson lifted the gun, several deputies described her as taking a 'shooting stance.'"

Wilson was shot by Sgt. Timothy J. Price, who fired a single round. No other deputies fired their weapons.

Wilson, who was shot to the right of her neck below the jawline, was pronounced dead at the scene.

District Attorney Satana Deberry said Wilson's actions could be seen as an imminent threat of deadly physical force, and Price's use of force was not "excessive."

Deberry wrote, "The evidence in this case shows that Ms. Wilson was upset ... Facebook Live footage and text messages with her roommate and friends indicated that she may have been contemplating suicide. She initiated a false emergency call to 911 to induce an armed law enforcement response to her home ... Deputies continuously ordered Wilson to disarm – commands to which she did not respond. When she did respond to commands, Wilson refused to obey and her observed behavior was erratic and unpredictable."

Cindy Clayton, a neighbor, described the intense scene, saying, "All of the sudden I got a text from my neighbor saying there's a deputy coming down my driveway. All of the sudden there were more [law enforcement] cars, and more and more. They kept coming."

There is insufficient evidence to support the filing of criminal charges, Deberry said.

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