CATAWBA COUNTY — Federal marshals arrested Xavier Wyatt, 18, accused of shooting at deputies in Catawba County overnight Wednesday.
Police said it happened during a traffic stop just south of Newton.
Channel 9’s Dave Faherty first broke the news of the manhunt on Eyewitness News Thursday morning.
Officers with the Newton Police Department told Faherty they’ve since recovered an AR-type rifle and the suspect’s shoes near where the shooting happened.
Police told Channel 9 they initially got a call shortly after midnight about a group of suspicious people spotted in the yard of a home about a mile from where the shooting took place.
Deputies pulled over a Nissan Altima with five people in it along St. James Church Road.
Investigators said they detained four of the people but Wyatt took off into the woods where he fired a round at officers.
That led to a huge police presence, with several roads in the area blocked off. Highway patrol sent their helicopter to help with the search for the teenager.
There are several homes nearby but it’s also an industrial area, making it hard for many to get to work.
“Sad situation. I hope they catch who it is. Firing on the police...face the consequences – I hope they get him,“ Chris White, a resident, told Channel 9.
Two different SWAT teams were brought in to help with the search but because of officer safety concerns, they didn’t go into the woods until after daylight. That’s when they found the long gun and shoes.
No officers were struck by gunfire.
Wyatt faces six counts of assault with a deadly weapon against a law enforcement officer with intent to kill after being arrested by federal marshals. His first appearance in court is on Monday. He is in jail under no bond.
The driver, Tevyn Nathaniel Hamlin, 26, of Hickory, was charged with driving while his license was revoked. Robert Djan Nelson Jr., 26, of Hickory, and Kenyan Malik Jackson, 22, of Newton, also had guns, investigators said.
Hamlin was released after posting a $500 secured bond with a court date set for Monday in Newton District Court.
Nelson Jr. was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and Jackson was charged with carrying a concealed weapon.
Nelson remains in custody at the Catawba County Detention Center under a $100,000 secured bond with a first appearance court date set for Monday.
Jackson was released after posting a $1,000 secured bond with a first appearance set for Monday, as well.
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