Sheriff: 2 Robeson deputies shot while serving warrant; suspect drives over deputy after stealing patrol car

Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said two of his deputies were taken to the hospital for emergency surgery after a chaotic and violent pursuit of a murder suspect out on bond.

The two deputies were shot Tuesday morning while serving a warrant to Shawn Tobin Locklear Jr., who was out on bond after being charged with murder and robbery in 2022. Wilkins said Locklear had cut off his ankle monitor.

A shootout occurred outside Maxton on Old Red Springs Road and included a deputy being run over by the suspect after Locklear stole a patrol vehicle.

Wilkins said deputies were looking for Locklear and he ran off into a wooded area when they approached his home. Locklear jumped out from behind a tree and shot two of the deputies, hitting Dep. Jonathan Walters three times in the upper body. Another deputy, Kaelin Locklear, was shot in the leg. (Although the deputy and suspect share a last name, they are not related.)

Shawn Locklear then to leave the scene by jumping in the deputies' car and backing up over Walters, breaking his leg. Neighbors came out with a belt and towel to apply as a tourniquet to help the deputies.

Shawn Locklear was shot "at least four, maybe five times," after stealing the patrol car, according to Wilkins. Shawn Locklear then backed into one of the other responding deputies' cars and drove out onto Old Red Springs Road.

Both deputies and the suspect were taken to Scotland Memorial Hospital. The suspect was eventually taken to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, where he is in critical condition. The deputies were taken to Cape Fear Valley Memorial Hospital.

On Wednesday morning, Wilkins said the deputies were alert, talking and in good spirits. Both are expected to make a full recovery.

Deputy Walters has undergone surgery for injuries to his legs and gunfire wounds.

Wilkins felt the crime was indicative of the surge in violence in Robeson County this year, noting the county has seen a record 37 murders in 2023.

"The disgusting part about all of this is he’s out after already committing a felony – an armed robbery – earlier," Wilkins said. "To give a bracelet to a murder suspect that’s already out on bond for armed robbery, that’s just unbelievable."

Wilkins said Shawn Locklear made bond for a robbery committed in March of 2022 and was released in May of 2023 for the November 2022 first-degree murder charges. Shawn Locklear was one of three arrested after a Red Springs man was found dead in a ditch on Nov. 29, 2022.

Wilkins was outraged at the chain-of-events on Tuesday afternoon.

"Here we are praying we don't have a dead deputy," Wilkins said. "I'm not only disgusted. Talk to the residents on this road that are disgusted."

Walters has been with the sheriff's office about three years while Kaelin Locklear was with the office for about two.

"Both of them are great deputies. Most people would speak very highly of them," Wilkins said. The office is asking the community to pray for the deputies as they hope to make a full recovery.

The community off Old Red Springs Road has an established Community Watch program. A tip from that program brought deputies to the area Tuesday morning.

Radio traffic reveals more about the shooting, including a clip that describes a "subject has been hit three times."

"We need EMS. One subject hit in the arm. Exited out the chest. Other officer on ground. Applying tourniquet."

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein also shared his thoughts about the deputies on social media, saying "My thoughts are with them, their families, and the entire Sheriff’s office. I thank them for their bravery and service and pray for a full and quick recovery."