North Carolina Deputy Fatally Shoots 13-Year-Old Boy Suspected of Killing His Grandmother

RAEFORD, NORTH CAROLINA — A 13-year-old boy suspected of killing his grandmother was shot and killed by a North Carolina deputy after allegedly charging toward the officer with a piece of lumber during a chase, authorities confirmed Friday.

According to the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were first called to a home in Raeford on Thursday for a welfare check. Inside, they discovered 68-year-old Connie Linen dead from what investigators have classified as a homicide.

Detectives quickly identified her grandson — a 13-year-old boy — as the primary suspect and began preparing first-degree murder charges before locating him in neighboring Lee County later that day.

Confrontation Turns Fatal

Officials with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said deputies found the boy hiding behind an abandoned mobile home in the Cameron area, roughly 30 miles from where his grandmother was found dead. When officers approached, the teen ran from the scene, sparking a short foot pursuit.

During the chase, authorities said, the boy grabbed a two-by-four board from a nearby yard and charged toward a deputy. The officer then fired, striking the teen.

The sheriff’s office described the boy as standing 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighing about 150 pounds. Deputies attempted life-saving measures at the scene, but the teen was pronounced dead shortly after.

State Bureau of Investigation Reviewing Case

Per standard protocol, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) will review the shooting to determine whether the deputy’s actions were justified. Both the Hoke County and Lee County Sheriff’s Offices have expressed that the situation remains under investigation, and no further details have been released about the manner of the grandmother’s death.

Lee County Sheriff Brian Estes has not yet commented publicly, but both agencies have stated that their deputies are cooperating fully with the SBI review.

Sheriff: ‘A Tragic and Emotional Situation’

In a statement issued Friday, Hoke County Sheriff Roderick Virgil called the incident “a tragic and emotional situation for everyone involved,” urging the community to respond with empathy and restraint.

“We ask that our community come together with compassion and understanding as we all process this difficult event,” Sheriff Virgil said.

Community members in Raeford and Cameron have expressed shock over the incident, with many noting the rarity of such violence involving someone so young.

Ongoing Questions in a Heartbreaking Case

Authorities have not disclosed how Connie Linen was killed or what may have motivated the attack. No additional suspects are being sought, and officials say there is no ongoing threat to the public.

As the SBI investigation moves forward, both law enforcement agencies are expected to release more information in the coming days.

This case marks one of the most tragic recent incidents in North Carolina’s ongoing discussions about juvenile crime and law enforcement response.

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