Updated: 6:42 PM EDT Apr 29, 2021
WXII12.com Web Staff
North Carolina is mourning two Watauga County Sheriff's Officers who were shot and killed during a standoff Wednesday.K-9 Deputy Logan Fox, 25, and Sgt. Chris Ward, 36, were killed in the ambush, deputies said. A K-9 responded with Deputy Fox and is OKAY.Investigators said Ward and Fox were dispatched to a home located at 553 Hardaman Circle in Boone at 9:44 a.m. Wednesday after the homeowner and his family didn’t report to work or answer telephone calls, the sheriff’s office said.They were hit by gunfire after entering the home, and while Ward was “extracted from the scene,” Fox remained inside, the statement said.Fox died at the scene while Ward died after being flown to Johnson City Medical Center for treatment, deputies said. Fox was a 2-year-veteran of the Watauga County Sheriff's Office who was partnered with K-9 Raven, according to deputies. He had also been a deputy with the Ashe County Sheriff's Office before this and his true passion was serving as a K-9 officer, his fellow officers said.Ward was an 8-year-veteran of law enforcement, according to deputies. He married his high school sweetheart and was a father of two children who are 19 and 5. He began his career with the Beech Mountain Police Department in 2013 before moving to the Watauga County Sheriff's Office, where he was promoted to sergeant.“This is an incredibly tragic situation and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved as well as their families and our community,” said Watauga County Sheriff Len Hagaman in a statement on April 28. “I greatly appreciate the tremendous support we are receiving from law enforcement agencies across the region and the state.”People have created a memorial at the Watauga County Sheriff's Office in honor of the deputies. Some knew them, while others just want to pay their respects.Click the video player below to hear from a woman who knew Sgt. Chris Ward and said to pray for all of those in the line of duty.