LUMBERTON — One person died Tuesday following an exchange of gunfire with police at Lumberton’s UNC Health Southeastern.
According to a police reporte obtained by The Robesonian, Lumberton Police officers were dispatched at “around 3:33 p.m. … to a report of a 35-year-old Lumberton man … with a gun in the lobby of Southeastern Health Women’s Clinic, located at 295 W 27th Street in Lumberton.”
When Police arrived, officers joined UNC Health Southeastern security officers to find the man, who “quickly ran from the officers. As officers chased after [the man], he shot at officers at least one time, according to the police statement released Wednesday mornning.
The man was able to breiefly escape pursuing officers as he ran toward the rear of the hospital.
“As officers continued to search they located [the man], deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the parking lot of 2828 N Rowland Ave.
Hospital officials confirmed the incident Tuesday afternoon, saying that “all visitors and teammates are safe at this time. It appears that the victim came on to the medical center property just moments prior to the shooting and had no connection to UNC Health Southeastern.”
The investigation is ongoing; anyone with information is asked to call Lumberton Police Sergeant Blake Harrell at (910) 671-3845.
David Kennard is the executive editor of the Robesonian. Reach him by email at dkennard@www.robesonian.com.