4 officers identified in fatal Gaston County shooting

Gaston County Police have released the identities of the officers involved in the fatal shooting of a man who had called a veterans hotline saying he would kill himself and warned against sending help “because it would not end well.”

William Dean Poole, 52, was killed outside his home on Wedowee Lane in mid-March.

Gaston County Police originally did not identify the four officers involved in the shooting, saying they had not yet been interviewed by the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, which is looking into the shooting.

On Monday, authorities identified the officers, including their years of service. They are: Sgt. J.E. Knupp, 19 years experience; Sgt. W.P. Downey, 18 years; Officer III T.R. Earl, 14 years; and Master Police Officer A.O. Holder, nine years experience.

Just after 5 p.m. March 16, authorities in Gaston were contacted by the National Veterans Hotline about Poole, who apparently had called the hotline saying he was suicidal.

This story was originally published March 30, 2015 at 1:33 PM with the headline "4 officers identified in fatal Gaston County shooting."