Questions Remain As SBI Investigates Shooting Involving Agent

There still are plenty of questions about what happened -- and who is investigating.

An SBI agent and an Internal Revenue Service agent went to the home of Jessica Jacobs in Maxton on Tuesday. Jacobs said the men banged on the door but never identified themselves. Concerned, she called her boyfriend, Buddy Bailey, who came over with a gun.

The agents reportedly left and then returned. Jacobs said Bailey went to the door with an assault rifle because he did not know who was there.

Jacobs said Bailey never pointed the gun and no words were exchanged before SBI agent Donovan Deaver shot Bailey in the chest.

Wednesday night, Jacobs wanted to know why the SBI was investigating the shooting.

While searching for a suspect last week, Clayton police shot Manuel Pena in his yard. The SBI was called in to investigate.

Last September, a Fayetteville officer shot a drug suspect. SBI agents investigated.

Earlier that month, a Raleigh police officer shot a man during a struggle. Again, the SBI was called in to review the case.

In the shooting of Bailey, the procedures are different. No outside agency has been called in. The SBI will investigate its own agent's actions.

"That's not fair," Jacobs said. "They are going to take up for their own."

WRAL asked Gov. Mike Easley, a former Attorney General, whether the SBI should investigate its own shootings.

"Certainly, there ought to be an internal investigation done by the State Bureau of Investigation," Easley said. "Now, if there's a criminal investigation done, then, generally, there'd be some outside investigation."

Attorney General Roy Cooper, who oversees the SBI, declined to comment on camera.

A spokesperson said policy dictates that the SBI's Professional Standards Division, from a different county, handles the investigation. The findings then will be turned over to the local District Attorney for review.

The SBI has not commented on whether agents identified themselves, or why they went to Jacobs' home. Jacobs said agents later asked her whether she was affiliated with local law enforcement.

She said no.