Detective Allen Pearson
Lenoir County Sheriff's Department
North Carolina
End of Watch: Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Biographical Info
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: LC105

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Shot and killed

Detective Allen Pearson was shot and killed as he and other members of the agency's Special Response Unit attempted to apprehend a suspect who had murdered a woman the previous day in a rural area of Lenoir County.

Deputies had responded to the scene after receiving reports of a man shooting a gun on a wooded path. When they arrived, they found the vehicle of the murder victim parked nearby. The suspect was located in the woods, where he was firing his rifle. The suspect refused to surrender and fired at the deputies.

The Lenoir County Sheriff's Department SRU was dispatched to the scene and located the suspect with the help of a North Carolina Highway Patrol helicopter. As the officers approached to take him into custody, the suspect opened fire with his rifle, which led to a gun battle in which Detective Pearson was fatally wounded and a second detective suffered a gunshot wound to his neck.

The suspect was shot several times by deputies and died from his wounds.

Deputy Pearson had served with the Lenoir County Sheriff's Department for eight years. He is survived by his wife.