Hoke County teen accused of killing grandmother dies after being shot by police
A 13-year-old boy accused of killing his grandmother in Hoke County died Thursday in Lee County after being shot by law enforcement, authorities said.
Hoke County deputies were called to the 100 block of Pearce Place in Raeford on Thursday morning for a well-being check, where a caller reported a woman inside the home was unresponsive, according to a Facebook post. Emergency responders pronounced the victim, 68-year-old Connie Linen, dead at the scene.
Detectives canvassed the neighborhood and interviewed witnesses before identifying Linen’s grandson as the suspect and charged him with first-degree murder, according to Hoke County.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said the juvenile was later located in the Cameron area, inside a stolen vehicle belonging to his grandmother, behind an abandoned mobile home. As deputies approached, he ran on foot.
During the pursuit, the teen picked up a piece of 2x4 lumber and charged toward a deputy, who fired and struck him, according to the agency. Deputies rendered aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The State Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the shooting, as is standard for officer-involved incidents.
“This has been a tragic and emotional situation for everyone involved. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Ms. Linen, as well as the family of the juvenile,” Hoke County Sheriff Roderick Virgil said on Facebook. “We ask that our community come together with compassion and understanding as we all process this difficult event.”
