GREENSBORO, N.C. – A North Carolina police officer was fatally shot while trying to intervene in a gas station robbery carried out by a trio of suspects.
The incident unfolded at a Sheetz gas station in Colfax, N.C. where Officer Philip Nix confronted two men and a woman attempting to steal $83 worth of beer. Nix was then shot by one of the suspects and succumbed to his injuries after being rushed to a nearby hospital.
Following the tragic shooting, authorities were able to locate and apprehend the three suspects – 18-year-old Jamere Foster, 18-year-old Z’quriah Blackwell, and 28-year-old John Morrison. Foster, who allegedly fired the fatal shot, is facing first-degree murder charges along with larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny. Morrison and Blackwell are also facing charges for their involvement in the crime.
Blackwell reportedly assisted Foster in his escape attempt and later discussed with him the sale of stolen goods and the destruction of evidence related to the incident. The three suspects are scheduled to appear in front of a judge on Tuesday.
The brutal killing of Officer Nix has left the Greensboro Police Department and the community in mourning. The tragic incident serves as a devastating reminder of the risks law enforcement officers face in the line of duty as they work to protect their communities.