Shelby police officer shot Saturday has died

Shelby police Officer Tim Brackeen, who was shot Saturday, died Monday at Carolinas Medical Center, his department said.

Brackeen died at 11:42 a.m., Shelby police Chief Jeff Ledford said in a statement. The suspect in the shooting will now face upgraded charges of first-degree murder, he said.

“At this time our department asks for everyone to keep Officer Brackeen’s family and the entire department in their thoughts and prayers,” the chief said.

Gov. Pat McCrory announced earlier Monday that the state is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the shooting. Another $15,000 in reward money came from donations from individuals, CrimeStoppers, the city of Shelby and county government.

“Ann and I are offering thoughts and prayers to both the Brackeen family and to the Shelby Police Department for the loss of their colleague,” McCrory later said in a statement. “Unfortunately this is another tragic example of the dangers those in law enforcement face in the line of duty each time they put on the uniform. The state is offering any assistance possible to help bring the individual or individuals responsible for his death to justice.”

Brackeen was shot in the line of duty Saturday in the area of Shelby’s Parkview Street while searching for a subject who was wanted on outstanding warrants. The 12-year veteran of the department was wearing a bullet-resistant vest when shot in the torso, officials said.

Investigators have identified the suspected gunman as Irving Lucien Fenner Jr., 23, of Grover.

Brackeen, 38, was assigned as a K9 officer, police said, and was the Shelby department’s officer of the year in 2012. He was married and had one daughter.

Anyone with information about this case has been asked to contact the Shelby Police Department at (704) 484-6845 or the State Bureau of Investigation at (919) 662-4500.

This story was originally published September 12, 2016 at 10:13 AM with the headline "Shelby police officer shot Saturday has died."