Incident: Friday, October 2, 2026, Jonestown Road, Deep Run, Lenoir County, North Carolina. Reported by the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation the same day.
Two Lenoir County sheriff’s deputies were shot after responding to a report of someone shooting at people passing by. Sheriff Jackie Rogers said deputies were sent to the 700 block of Jonestown Road in Deep Run at about 11:15 a.m.
Rogers said a man came out of a home and fired at the deputies, striking one of them. He said the man fired again as officers worked to get him to come back outside.
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Deputies returned fire. The State Bureau of Investigation said the case is being investigated as an officer-involved shooting because several law enforcement officers fired their weapons.
One deputy was struck in the stomach and underwent surgery at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville. Where the second deputy was wounded has not been released. Both injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
In an update Friday evening, Rogers said both deputies were in stable condition and being treated at ECU Health Medical Center. “I am thankful to report that both deputies are in stable condition,” Rogers said.
Officers breached the home and used a drone to locate the man in a bedroom. The SBI confirmed he was dead. His cause of death has not been released.
Rogers identified the man as Cecil James Langston, 58, of Deep Run. The SBI had said earlier that it was working to notify his children.
SBI Director Chip Hawley said agents were working the scene methodically. “Our agents are doing this step by step, so it’ll take a while to make sure we get it right,” Hawley said. WBTV reported that 26 SBI agents were sent to the scene.
The SBI said the investigation was requested by Sheriff Rogers, that the officers involved have been placed on administrative duty while it continues, and that there is no threat to the public.
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