13-Year-Old Shot and Killed by Police Following Grandmother’s Murder in North Carolina
A tragic incident unfolded in North Carolina this week after 68-year-old Connie Linen was found dead in her Raeford home.
The Hoke County Sheriff’s Office reported responding to a welfare check Thursday morning, where Linen was discovered deceased. Following an investigation, authorities identified her 13-year-old grandson, referred to as J.A., as the suspect and charged him with first-degree murder.
A multi-agency search, including assistance from the State Bureau of Investigation, was launched to locate the boy. He was found in Lee County inside his grandmother’s stolen vehicle, parked behind an abandoned mobile home.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, when deputies approached, the boy ran across the street into a wooded area. During the pursuit, he allegedly picked up a piece of 2×4 lumber from a nearby yard and charged at a deputy. In response, a deputy fired their weapon, striking the boy. Emergency aid was administered, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The State Bureau of Investigation is now leading the inquiry into the shooting.
This incident underscores the difficult and complex circumstances law enforcement can encounter, involving both violent crime and the involvement of a minor. Investigators continue to piece together the events leading to the tragedy, while the community grapples with the loss of life on both sides.