5 dead, including 2 sheriff’s deputies, after N.C. standoff
Updated Apr 29, 2021;
Posted Apr 29, 2021
In this photo provided by WJZY, a tactical van from Caldwell County, North Carolina, sits on stand-by at a staging area in Boone, N.C., on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Law enforcement agencies responded to a standoff in Boone in which two Watauga County sheriff’s deputies were shot and wounded. (Morgan Frances/WJZY via AP)AP
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By Hayley Fowler and Mark Price, The Charlotte Observer (TNS)
Two civilians whose names have not yet been released also died. WSOC-TV said they were the shooter’s mother and stepfather.
"The individual suspected of killing the two officers is also suspected of killing two civilians in the residence," the Watauga County Sheriff’s office
10 a.m.:Â The Watauga County Sheriff s Office confirmed the individual suspected of killing the two officers is also suspected of killing two civilians in the residence. The names of the civilians are not being released at this time.
During an initial rescue attempt of the WCSO officers, a Boone Police officer was hit by gunfire, but was uninjured due to his protective equipment.
The investigation is ongoing, and is being led by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
A GoFundMe was set up in support of Sergeant Chris Ward s family by Back the Blue NC and can be found at
A gunman who killed himself, two deputies and his mother and stepfather in a 13-hour standoff in Boone had a large cache of weapons and may have been contemplating a public attack, Sheriff Len Hagaman of Watauga County said Thursday.
George Wyatt Ligon, 58, and his wife, Michelle Ligon, 61, were killed Wednesday, and the shooting suspect, Isaac Alton Barnes, 32, died at the scene, the Watauga County Sheriffâs Office said Thursday.
Barnes was Michelle Ligonâs son and the Georgeâs stepson.
Hagaman said that family members worried about the large number of weapons in Barnesâ possession.
âThere was familial concern that he might try to do something and he had evidently a fairly large cache of weapons and he was at the house, which we didnât think he would be,â Hagaman said.
Sheriff: 2 deputies killed during welfare check at Boone home were ambushed; suspect identified WSOCTV.com News Staff
Two deputies were killed and three other people, including the gunman, were found dead after a 13-hour standoff in Boone, the Watauga County sheriff said on Thursday.
Authorities said the two deputies died in the shooting that prompted a daylong standoff Wednesday that dragged into the night with law enforcement officers surrounding a home.
The sheriff identified the gunman as 32-year-old Isaac Alton Barnes. Officials believe he died by suicide.
Breaking Boone- sheriff Hagaman just spoke with us confirming the second deputy has died. They also found the suspect’s mother and stepfather deceased. Police had been to the home over the weekend. The latest on the investigation today at noon, 5pm and 6pm. pic.twitter.com/uV0WlhTnOX Dave Faherty (@FahertyWSOC9) April 29, 2021